Poker players hoping to ante up in Niagara Falls, Canada have once again been left out in the cold. Fallsview Casino Resort and Niagara Casino, the two casinos in Niagara Falls, Canada, have confirmed that they won’t be reopening their doors this Friday, even though the province has technically made it possible.
Niagara Falls has been given the green light to enter Stage 3 on Friday, a move that allows for indoor dining and increases indoor & outdoor gatherings.
Unfortunately, indoor gatherings are limited to 50 across the province. For casinos that can accommodate well over 10,000, the limited capacity is a non-starter.
“It’s not a casino issue, it’s a capacity issue,” noted Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati. “Casinos that can typically handle 11,000 at a time, nine million per year, to go to 50? … it’s not worth opening the doors because they’d only lose money.”
The casino industry is the number one employer in the Niagara region.
The mayor also noted that the two Niagara Falls casinos have “gone above and beyond what would be required” in an effort to open safely and responsibly during COVID-19 pandemic.
Diodati continued, “They have hired an epidemiologist to help them design a very safe to play experience, there’s been antimicrobial applications on all touch surfaces and they have enough Plexiglas to cover an NHL-sized ice rink. They’ve got all the documentation and plans vetted by public health, but until the numbers make sense, they have no choice but to remain closed.”
Niagara Casinos echoed the sentiment in a news release, indicating that they’re reviewing the reopening requirements for casinos and how capacity restrictions will impact the two properties.
“While we are not reopening this Friday, we look forward to welcoming back our guests soon,” said Richard Taylor, president of Niagara Casinos.
