British Columbia based Great Canadian Gaming has provided an update on the status of its 25 properties across Canada, and the firm suspended all operations on March 16, 2020, to help combat the spread of COVID-19.
This comes after the group asserted expectations of a slow rate of recovery when publishing its latest quarterly update last month, when revenue for the operator dropped 82 per cent from CA$354.4m to CA$62.8m.
In Ontario, Great Canadian will be reopening its 11 properties on September 28, 2020 as part of Ontario’s stage three framework for the reopening of its economy. As part of that framework, the company will be adhering to provincial guidelines, which includes indoor gathering limits up to a maximum of 50 guests, and will not include the operation of table games or other amenities.
Across New Brunswick, the firm will also be reopening its Casino New Brunswick property on September 28, 2020 as part of New Brunswick’s “COVID-19 recovery plan.”
The reopening of the property will be premised upon following prescriptive operational plans and protocols, including reduced facility guest capacity to approximately 25 per cent, the availability of just over 50 per cent of the venue’s slot machines, and the suspension of most amenities.
In Nova Scotia, where casinos have been granted the ability to reopen, Great Canadian continues to work with the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation on preparations required for the reopening of the company’s two Nova Scotia properties. Properties in the group’s home market of British Columbia remain closed as mandated by the provincial government.
“I’m pleased we are able to safely reopen our facilities in Ontario and New Brunswick, allowing us to bring back to work team members in each province,” stated Rod Baker, the company’s CEO.
“Once open, gaming revenues in each jurisdiction will be significantly reduced due to operating restrictions. The reductions will be especially significant for our Ontario properties where, due to the 50-guest maximum restriction, we expect no material financial benefit to the company from our 11 Ontario locations.”
“In BC, no approval has been granted for casinos to reopen, and as such, the company will continue to manage its assets in the closed state.”
