The proposed purchase of Great Canadian Gaming Corporation — which owns Georgian Downs on Highway 400, south of Barrie — by an American equity company led to some confusion over the status of the casino slots in Innisfil.
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However, Gateway Casino Innisfil, which is part of a separate company that leases space inside the 5 Sideroad facility, is not expected to be impacted by the pending deal, which could be ratified in December.
'We're not affected,' said Gateway spokesman Robert Mitchell.
With the proposed purchase of Great Canadian Gaming Corporation by Apollo Global Management for a reported $3.3 billion (Cdn.), Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) officials see the move as positive.
'The proposed acquisition is expected to support significant investment and profitable growth of gaming operations at Great Canadian casinos in Ontario,' said OLG president and CEO Duncan Hannay. 'This benefits OLG, the province, and the communities that host 11 casinos operated by Great Canadian in Ontario.'
The purchase of Great Canadian Gaming by Apollo Global Management still has to be ratified by shareholders.
Under normal circumstances, prior to the pandemic, the Town of Innisfil received quarterly payments of between $1 million and $2 million from OLG for hosting the slot machines at Georgian Downs. In the 2019-20 fiscal year, the town received more than $6.2 million, bringing the total to close to $90 million in non-tax gaming revenue since November 2001.
'I don't believe the sale will have an impact, but the ongoing pandemic and the limited capacity in the facility continues to impact the revenues the town receives from OLG,' said Innisfil Mayor Lynn Dollin.
In late-April, OLG's quarterly payment to the town was $972,983.
The province's commercial interests in casinos continue to be managed by OLG and protected by contractual agreements.
'These contracts remain in place and are unaffected by the proposed acquisition,' OLG said in a statement.
Meanwhile, in 2018, Gateway Casinos and Entertainment signed a 23-year agreement with OLG to take over the leases and day-to-day operations at several facilities, including at Georgian Downs and Casino Rama.
After being shut down due to COVID-19, Gateway reopened the doors at its Innisfil operation Oct. 10, as part of the province's Stage 3 recovery.
'The response from our customers has been uniformly positive,' Mitchell said.
However, Mitchell says it remains to be seen how the Innisfil casino operation will rebound from the pandemic.
'Evaluating the success of reopening is problematic, with a 50-person hard cap on visitation,' he said.
Gateway Casino Innisfil's 26 table games remain closed, although the casino has introduced electronic table games for baccarat, roulette and poker players. The spacious casino facility at Georgian Downs has more than 1,000 slot machines and, under normal conditions, is licensed for 3,342 people.
OLG has supported the safe reopening of casinos, where the rules allow it.
'To reopen or remain open, casino service providers must comply with current provincial and municipal health guidelines and continue to work with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO),' as well as local public health units, said OLG spokesperson Tony Bitonti.
Bitonti acknowledged that as a result of the current 50-person cap on attendance, 'revenue generated at the present time is significantly less than pre-COVID levels.'
Starting Oct. 15, Gateway Casino Innisfil made the decision to remain open around the clock, with mask-wearing and COVID-19 protocols in place, including frequent cleaning and sanitation, and steps to maintain two-metre physical distancing.
Those steps include floor decals and stanchions, and keeping some slot machines 'out-of-play,' although all of the machines are illuminated to help create a more typical casino atmosphere and experience for patrons — at present, limited to My Club Reward members, who make a reservation to play.
And despite the challenging circumstances, Mitchell said 'people are enjoying it.'
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'They are commenting on the cleanliness of our location,' Mitchell said, and complimenting staff on their efforts to create a safe environment. 'People are very, very respectful. We've had no issues in terms of our patrons abiding by the protocols.
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'It's good to see this level of respect and co-operation,' he added.
Stage 3 of Ontario's reopening took effect on Friday, including fitness centres, indoor seating at bars and restaurants.
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And casinos.
But Innisfil's Gateway Casino at Georgian Downs won't be opening any time soon.
The purchase of Great Canadian Gaming by Apollo Global Management still has to be ratified by shareholders.
Under normal circumstances, prior to the pandemic, the Town of Innisfil received quarterly payments of between $1 million and $2 million from OLG for hosting the slot machines at Georgian Downs. In the 2019-20 fiscal year, the town received more than $6.2 million, bringing the total to close to $90 million in non-tax gaming revenue since November 2001.
'I don't believe the sale will have an impact, but the ongoing pandemic and the limited capacity in the facility continues to impact the revenues the town receives from OLG,' said Innisfil Mayor Lynn Dollin.
In late-April, OLG's quarterly payment to the town was $972,983.
The province's commercial interests in casinos continue to be managed by OLG and protected by contractual agreements.
'These contracts remain in place and are unaffected by the proposed acquisition,' OLG said in a statement.
Meanwhile, in 2018, Gateway Casinos and Entertainment signed a 23-year agreement with OLG to take over the leases and day-to-day operations at several facilities, including at Georgian Downs and Casino Rama.
After being shut down due to COVID-19, Gateway reopened the doors at its Innisfil operation Oct. 10, as part of the province's Stage 3 recovery.
'The response from our customers has been uniformly positive,' Mitchell said.
However, Mitchell says it remains to be seen how the Innisfil casino operation will rebound from the pandemic.
'Evaluating the success of reopening is problematic, with a 50-person hard cap on visitation,' he said.
Gateway Casino Innisfil's 26 table games remain closed, although the casino has introduced electronic table games for baccarat, roulette and poker players. The spacious casino facility at Georgian Downs has more than 1,000 slot machines and, under normal conditions, is licensed for 3,342 people.
OLG has supported the safe reopening of casinos, where the rules allow it.
'To reopen or remain open, casino service providers must comply with current provincial and municipal health guidelines and continue to work with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO),' as well as local public health units, said OLG spokesperson Tony Bitonti.
Bitonti acknowledged that as a result of the current 50-person cap on attendance, 'revenue generated at the present time is significantly less than pre-COVID levels.'
Starting Oct. 15, Gateway Casino Innisfil made the decision to remain open around the clock, with mask-wearing and COVID-19 protocols in place, including frequent cleaning and sanitation, and steps to maintain two-metre physical distancing.
Those steps include floor decals and stanchions, and keeping some slot machines 'out-of-play,' although all of the machines are illuminated to help create a more typical casino atmosphere and experience for patrons — at present, limited to My Club Reward members, who make a reservation to play.
And despite the challenging circumstances, Mitchell said 'people are enjoying it.'
'They are commenting on the cleanliness of our location,' Mitchell said, and complimenting staff on their efforts to create a safe environment. 'People are very, very respectful. We've had no issues in terms of our patrons abiding by the protocols.
'It's good to see this level of respect and co-operation,' he added.
Stage 3 of Ontario's reopening took effect on Friday, including fitness centres, indoor seating at bars and restaurants.
Georgian Downs Picks
And casinos.
But Innisfil's Gateway Casino at Georgian Downs won't be opening any time soon.
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'At the moment, I can confirm with you we will not be reopening Casino Rama in Orillia or Gateway Casinos Innisfil today,' said Robert Mitchell, director of communications and public affairs for Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Ltd., when contacted on Friday.
'At the present time, all Gateway casinos remain closed in Ontario as we evaluate how we can operate under the current capacity restrictions,' Mitchell said. 'Right now, we have no set timeline for reopening any Gateway locations.'
Gateway has been looking at what would be needed to maintain social distancing and a safe environment within a casino setting, as well as the impact on revenues.
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'We have developed extensive health and safety plans for each site, which includes two-metre physical distancing, rigorous cleaning and sanitation measures and the mandatory use of masks or face coverings for all individuals entering our gaming sites,' Mitchell said.
However, he pointed out, 'any plans for reopening must be independently reviewed by a health and safety subject matter expert and submitted to the regulator, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).'
The ongoing closure means a fiscal loss to host municipalities, such as Innisfil. In a normal year, the town receives approximately $5 million from the OLG as its share of revenues generated by the casino tables and slots.
So far this year, Innisfil has received just under $1 million in the first quarter, with no further funding forthcoming until the casino can open its doors.
