Closure of casinos impacts on First Nations in Canada
According to the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority, the closure of casinos has impacted on the resources for First Nations communities.
Canada.- Casinos in Saskatchewan province have been closed since mid-December 2020, when an order was imposed by authorities due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
It was expected that venues would reopen in January 2021, but more than five months later, casinos remain closed.
Casinos and bingo halls are now expected to reopen in late June in Step 2 of the province’s reopening plans.
The lack of activity has not only impacted on business but also on the community. According to Zane Hansen, president and CEO of Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority, restrictions have been especially hard on non-profit organisations.
Hansen said: “We are non-profit and we really designed our participation and gaming to maximize benefits through employment opportunities. All of the earnings of our company go back to our First Nation communities across the province.
“They’ve all been impacted and had to make do with less resources and wrestle with the impact of the pandemic in their communities.”
Read more: Casinos in British Columbia press for reopening
However, he said that not being able to operate VLT machines in casinos while they have been allowed in restaurants was an unfair measure.
Hansen said SIGA was now preparing for reopening. He said it was expecting an initial capacity limit of 150 people, which is about 15 per cent of normal.
