Thursday May 27, 2021 | VICTORIA, BC
by Jalen C Codrington, desk editor | Island Social Trends
Things will be back in action soon at casinos in BC. Getting set for a safe reopening has been big news this week.
The BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC) and its private-sector gambling services are planning for the reopening of casinos and gaming centres as early as July 1, 2021.
Since mid-March 2020, when the pandemic first began, all of the province’s casinos have been shut down under Provincial Health Officer orders due to an essential impossibility for adequate physical distancing and (until recent months) no COVID immunization to levels high enough to give consideration for re-opening.
According to Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry’s BC Restart announcement this week (on May 25 along with Premier John Horgan, Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon and Health Minister Adrian Dix), bingo halls, casinos, and nightclubs will be able to reopen in Step 3 of the plan.
The criteria for moving to Step 3, says the PHO, is that at least 70% of the 18+ population would be vaccinated with a single dose, along with factors such as case counts heading lower, and declining COVID-19 hospitalizations.
“We’re excited to be one step closer towards reopening the casino industry and to be included in Step 3 of BC’s restart plan to safely bring people back together,” said Lynda Cavanaugh, Interim President and CEO of BCLC. “Casinos offer great – and safe – entertainment and socialization, while also generating revenue for provincial initiatives, community programs and First Nations.”
Specific reopening details for casinos are being developed through consultation between representatives from BCLC and its service providers, ministry staff, public-health officials and WorkSafeBC.
COVID precautions taken by casinos are to include:
- At least two metres of space between table games, slot machines, and other gambling equipment;
- Physical barriers (such as plexi-glass) where physical distancing is not possible or where casino employees, such as dealers or cash-cage staff, must interact with players;
- Reduced occupancy to as many players as there are active seats available on the gaming floor, in combination with occupancy for amenities such as restaurants and lounges;
- Adjusted availability of table games to those in which cards can be dealt face up; players will not be permitted to touch cards which the exception of Squeeze Baccarat, which utilizes one-time use cards.
Ventilation assurances:
BCLC emphasizes that all of their facilities meet or exceed air-quality standards, and claims that air changes will occur frequently per hour.
BC Government relies on gaming revenues:
In an annual business report, BCLC said the organization achieved $1.347 billion in net income, down somewhat (from $1.415 billion in the previous year) due to the pandemic.
In BC, about 75% of gaming revenues (including lottery, community gaming, casinos and e-sports) go toward the funding of public health and public education.
It’s unclear how much revenue the corporation will generate when casinos finally reopen. People who go to casinos will be keen to get back there, but with COVID precautions in place, the attendance numbers won’t be back to normal levels right away.
===== LINKS:
- New BC Lottery Corp board chair oversees $1.3+ billion annual revenue (by Mary P Brooke, Island Social Trends, May 21, 2021)
- Lottery win 60K+ with ticket purchased at Fairway in Langford (by Jalen C Codrington, Island Social Trends, May 21, 2021)
- BC Lottery Corporation – casinos reopening (BCLC, May 26, 2021)
