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Despite the ongoing closure of the Canadian border, casino gambling will soon resume on the other side of the Detroit River.
On October 8, Caesars Windsor made an announcement regarding its reopening, stating that it will welcome invited guests back to enjoy the slot machine floor.
Only select Caesars Rewards members will be allowed into the casino, with a maximum capacity of 50 customers at any given time.
As a result of the coronavirus, Caesars Windsor has remained closed since March 16.
Since early August, the three Detroit casinos have resumed operations at 15% capacity, while adhering to additional restrictions imposed by the state.
No table games or non-gaming amenities
The idea of a bigger opening, which involved splitting the casino into 12 pods accommodating 50 people each, had been discussed. However, it seems that plan is not currently being considered.
Next month, when the casino reopens, patrons will be required to wear masks that cover their mouth and nose. However, there will be no additional extras or embellishments offered.
For the initial reopening, Caesars Windsor has decided not to reopen table games or non-gaming amenities.
Susanne Tomkins, the manager of public relations and communications at the casino, expressed that although there are limitations, reopening under these restrictions allows them to rehire a few employees and offers an opportunity to reconnect with their guests and the community. She stated that they are optimistic about this being the initial stage towards increasing capacity and eagerly anticipate welcoming more guests and employees back in the near future.
As per the casino’s regulations, customers must make a reservation beforehand. The Star reports that guests can register for a maximum of two four-hour sessions per day, starting from 10 a.m. until 2 a.m.
The newspaper reported that initially, approximately 150 out of the 2,400 employees of the casino will be returning to work.
Will more sports betting come to Canada?
While Michigan has made progress in legalizing sports betting this year, Canada is falling behind in this regard.
Amidst the pandemic, there was a push to introduce single-wager sports betting in Canada, albeit limited to parlay-style bets at the moment.
Nevertheless, the legislative efforts were hampered by a sequence of obstacles, prolonging the process and potentially postponing any significant progress until 2021.
Expanded gambling efforts were essentially reset due to the suspension of parliamentary business for over a month in August.
Other casinos opening across Canada
In a recent announcement, Great Canadian Gaming revealed plans to reopen 11 of its casinos in New Brunswick and Ontario next week.
After temporarily shutting down due to the pandemic in March, the majority of casinos in the United States have now resumed operations. As per the American Gaming Association’s monitoring, 901 casinos were open on Thursday afternoon, while 92 remained closed.
All of Michigan’s casinos, except for the Kings Club Casino in Brimley, have reopened. Nonetheless, its neighboring casino, Bay Mills Casino, has resumed operations.
Canadian border still closed indefinitely
The prohibition on US/Canadian border crossings will continue until at least October 21st, with the possibility of additional extensions thereafter.
Exemptions apply to health care workers, truck drivers involved in essential goods transportation, temporary foreign workers, and various other individuals.
