According to the latest reports coming from Montreal, Quebec, the city’s largest casino facility is ready to recommence operations next week. After the provincial announcement for the lift of health and safety restrictions, not long ago, Casino Montréal and several other casino properties from the province will be allowed to open to the public on February 28, 2022.
At the end of 2021, all land-based casino properties in Quebec were closed down due to the rising cases of the unprecedented situation. In addition to that VLTs, bingo, and Kinzo offerings at bars were also shut down. However, with the recent improvement of health indicators in the province, the local government allowed the restart of operations across the gaming facilities.
Reopening on Monday
Starting from Monday, February 28, 2022, Casino Montréal will once more be able to accommodate guests for the first time since the end of December 2021. The gaming facility will operate every day of the week from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m., and this time patrons will not be required to make reservations before attending the property.
Loto-Québec informed that the gaming venue will still operate with a few health and safety protocols. For instance, until March 13, 2022, guests will be required to present vaccine proof in accordance with the Quebec government’s mandates. The casino will also operate at 50% of its total capacity until March 13, 2022, when both of those rules will be lifted.
Employees are Still Laid Off, Says Union
However, there are some concerning reports that Casino Montréal will be reopening without recalling many of its staff members. According to CUPE union representative Jean-Pierre Proulx, the property will reopen with hundreds of hidden layoffs, which breaches the collective agreement that is currently in motion. The situation was denounced by croupiers, who have requested government interference.
The President of the union said that when the unprecedented situation began employees were paid until July 21, 2020, but from date, they were laid off. He said that the Crown proceeds the reopening without recalling all of its workforces, which will be able to return when capacity limits are lifted. That is why the union demanded that the Crown agency recalls all employees for March 14, otherwise hundreds of workers will be out of work.
Parting Ways with Restaurant
Back in April 2021, Casino Montréal announced that it will be shutting down one of its dining amenities for good and that was its L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon restaurant. The venue was closed down in March 2020, before the Crown agency terminated its contract with Groupe Robuchon. The restaurant was replaced by the Asian dining venue of Ajia, which expanded into the vacant space.
New Payments are in Consideration
This week, President and CEO of the Crown corporation, Jean-Francois Bergeron spoke at a virtual presentation at the Quebec City Chamber of Commerce and Industry or QCCCI. There he shared that the company is considering cryptocurrencies as a legal payment. The Crown wants to expand its payment methods, but the President explained the process is far from advanced.
Source: Jadah, Ty “Casino de Montréal will reopen to the public next week”, DH News, February 24, 2022
