Niagara’s two casinos to reopen July 23
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After 16 months, the slots will ring again at Niagara Falls’ two casinos next Friday.
A week after Ontario enters Step 3 of its reopening — allowing casinos to resume operations at 50 per cent of visitor capacity — Niagara Fallsview and Casino Niagara will open their doors July 23 at 10 a.m.
Both casinos have been shut down since March 16, 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared.
In a media statement released Tuesday afternoon, Niagara Casinos president Richard Taylor says the gaming floors will have extensive safety measures upon reopening, including plastic partitions, two-metre physical distancing and face masks for patrons and employees.
“We are looking forward to welcoming back our guests and associates and are doing so with their health and safety as our top priority,” he said. “We are incredibly grateful for the efforts and sacrifices everyone has made over the past 16 months that have made it safe for us to reopen our doors.”
The reopening will be done in phases, with limited amenities at first.
Fallsview Casino’s gaming floor will be open 24 hours per day, as will the slot machines, electronic table games and parking garage. Other openings include the hotel, select restaurants and Galleria shops. Limited table games will resume July 30.
Casino Niagara will initially be open from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., with the last guest permitted entry at 1:15 a.m. Slots, electronic table games, Perks Café and the Chill Bar will be open. Table games and the poker room will remain closed for the time being.
Concerts at the Avalon Theatre and brand new Entertainment Centre are still on hold.
The 5,000-seat Entertainment Centre was set to host its first concert (Brad Paisley) on April 2 last year before the pandemic struck. It had been under construction since the fall of 2017.
Both Niagara casinos will require ‘momentum cards’ upon entry for contact tracing purposes.
Invitation only events will be held at the casinos July 21 and 22, prior to the reopening.
Caesars Windsor casino will also be reopening July 23 at 10 a.m. with the same protocols.
Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates said it has been a “long road” for casino employees who have been unable to work for over a year.
“It’s great news to see them getting back to work and we need to make sure all workers have the supports needed to get back on their feet,” he says. “I’ve been down to the casino and seen the safety measures they’ve put in place to make sure the guests and workers are safe.
“Above all, this is one step closer to getting our lives back to normal and that’s good news.”
