Under the deal, Great Canadian and Brookfield would acquire OLG Slots at Woodbine, OLG Slots at Ajax Downs and the Great Blue Heron Casino located in the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. Further to the Ontario provincial government announcement on Friday, November 20, 2020 that certain businesses, including casinos, will be required to further restrict indoor gathering limits, Great Blue Heron Casino has temporarily suspended casino operations as of Sunday at 11:59pm EST, November 22, 2020 until further notice.
| Great Blue Heron Casino | |
|---|---|
| Location | Port Perry, Ontario, Canada |
| Opening date | 1997 |
| Casino type | Land-based |
| Owner | The Great Blue Heron Gaming Company |
| Renovated in | 1999–2000 |
| Coordinates | 44°10′52″N78°53′20″W / 44.181111°N 78.888992°W |
| Website | gbhcasino.com |
The Great Blue Heron Casino is located on Scugog Island, just east of the community of Port Perry, Ontario, and northeast of Toronto. Both the Casino and the land on which it is built are owned by the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. The First Nation theme is carried throughout the facility, in the interior art and is especially noticeable in the signature red, blue and cream colour roof.
The Great Blue Heron Gaming Company, a partnership of Casinos Austria, the Steiner Family, and Sonco Gaming, operates the Casino. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation manages the slots, while the Baagwating Community Association, a non-profit, charitable organization formed by the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, manages the table games. Revenues and profits are distributed among the parties, and to various charitable organizations, based upon contractual sharing arrangements.
Opened originally in 1997, with gaming tables and a 650-seat bingo hall, the Casino was extensively renovated in 1999 and 2000. Its floor area is approximately 25,000 square feet (2,300 m2), in which there are now two bars, one restaurant, a slots' room with 545 machines and a 60 table games. The table games include: Roulette, Blackjack, Spanish 21, Mini Baccarat, Let it Ride Poker, Texas Hold Em Poker, Pai Gow Poker, Three & Four Card Poker and Texas Hold Em Bonus Poker. As of 1999, there is no longer a bingo hall on premises.
The Casino is currently receiving renovations that will be completed in July of 2020.[1] The expansion includes a 100 room hotel as well as a 20,000 square foot addition to hold more slots and tables and a 500 seat entertainment centre.[2]
See also[edit]
External links[edit]
References[edit]
Great Blue Heron Casino Winners
- ^'Great Blue Heron Casino Expansion Brings Mid-2020 Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony'. Casino Reports. October 9, 2019.
- ^'Expansion plans in works for Great Blue Heron Casino'. The Star. Jan 29, 2018.
Coordinates: 44°10′52″N78°53′20″W / 44.181111°N 78.888992°W
The Blue Heron Restaurant
Mohegan Gaming is currently mulling over its reopening plan when it comes to the casino resorts it oversees in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Casino Niagara and the Fallsview Casino are two of the hotspots in the region and they have been closed over the past more than ten weeks. The tribal casino operator is working on the plan for their successful reopening.
Niagara Falls, Ontario was among the popular tourist destinations experiencing quite the hit as a result of the unprecedented situation around the globe and across Canada. Their casino resorts closed for business and remained closed over the past ten weeks. As the United States work on their business reopening plans, Canada and Ontario, in particular, are also weighing their options.
Gaming Returns
Mohegan Gaming is seeking ways in which it could reopen its gaming facilities in a safe way and protect both casino staff members and players making their way there. This could happen by following closely all health recommendations coming from Ontario’s government. The tribal casino operator recently made it clear that the government has completed the Ontario Gaming Industry Health and Safety Guidelines.
This would pave the way for the eventual safe reopening of casino locations which is expected to take place this summer. Every casino location comes with its unique layout which would mandate a special approach to its reopening. Fallsview Casino’s reopening committee is preparing to study the safety guidelines once they become public and act accordingly. Soon after that, it would have to devise its plan for action.
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is expected to review the plan once it is ready and give its approval for the official reopening of the casino hotspot. Mohegan Gaming made it clear that the casino venues would like to implement various measures promoting physical distancing. This includes floor markings for keeping distance, as well as plexiglass barriers for the gaming tables.
New Measures Implemented
Some of those measures have already been tested by some casino locations in the United States. They could soon be introduced across Canadian casino venues, as players want to return to the brick-and-mortar gaming. At the moment, online gaming and lottery ticket purchases remain the sole legal gambling offerings available. Individuals would also have to wear face masks and use the sanitation stations across the casino floors.
In the meantime, Great Blue Heron Casino and Casino Ajax are also preparing for the eventual reopening. The Durham region might be among the first to witness in-person casino gaming, as it was recently confirmed by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. A total of 27 casino locations across the province would have to reopen with the mandatory safety measures and restrictions implemented.
Tony Bitonti, Spokesperson for the Crown corporation stated they are working with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and the casino operators. Corey Dalton, President of Unifor Local 1090, also made it clear that unionized casino workers will have their health protected at all costs, as this is one of the main concerns right now. Employees are eager to get back to work in the upcoming months.
Great Blue Heron Casino
