Canadian Gaming Business Temporarily Interrupted Due to Covid-19

29.03.2020, 23:28

On March 16, 2020, the Great Canadian Gaming Corporation proclaimed a brief suspension of the New Brunswick, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and British Columbia gaming offices as per the state’s Covid-19 infection control policy.

Related to the state lottery enterprises, the closure of the gaming offices depended on distributions by wellbeing specialists concerning the conceivable peril of COVID-19 spread in places where people may gather in critical numbers.

No visitors or workers at any of the facilities of the corporation have been confirmed to be infected with the COVID-19 virus, and closures are protective measures to mitigate the virus transmission risk. The suspension is temporary and should be discussed in terms of the development of the situation surrounding COVID-19.

Casinos are Closing All Over the World

Casinos in Massachusetts and Illinois are closing for at least two weeks due to the coronavirus epidemic. That’s the decision made by the gaming industry regulators in those states.

Casinos suspended their work on the evening of March 14, and hotels, restaurants, and other infrastructure near the casino stopped working a day later. Gambling industry operators said they would need time to re-register guests to other hotels and to shut down the slot machines correctly.

Las Vegas Wynn Resorts and MGM Close Due to Covid-19 Pandemic

In Portugal, casino operator Estoril Sol SGPS SA stated that three of its facilities would be closed.

The most confirmed cases of Coronavirus in Canada were found in British Columbia province (231), in Ontario (214), Alberta (119), and Quebec (94).

The country’s chief medical officer, Teresa Tam, called on Canadians to take action to prevent the Coronavirus from further spreading. She claimed traveling and staying in crowded areas should be restricted. She also encouraged Canadians to start a 14-day quarantine after returning from international trips and recommended working remotely if possible.

She noted that most cases of Coronavirus in Canada are connected with international travelers. “However, the situation can change very quickly”, Tam added.

Gambling Business Features in Canada

Canada has specific rules regarding the regulation of casinos. For example, in Alberta, it is possible to take part in gambling from the age of 18, and in British Columbia, it is allowed to visit casinos only from the age of 19.

In the northwestern part of the country, the only legal form of gambling is the government lottery. In Ontario, there are gambling centers that offer mixed services – betting offices, casinos, lotteries. In Quebec, sweepstakes and non-government lotteries are allowed. It is also possible to participate in gambling for charity purposes.

Canadian Lottery Player Sues Loto-Quebec, Doesn’t Know How Odds Work

Most provincial areas of Canada have casinos with video slots, a variety of card games, numerous machines, and exciting private lotteries. Canadians have a fairly large selection of gambling hobbies that are not prohibited by official authorities.

The management of each Canadian province determines the type of permitted gambling business on its territory.

Quebec is the province with the highest number of gamblers. There are 10,448 institutions with gambling: from lottery outlets to grand casinos. Ontario ranks second, with 9,992 gambling establishments in the province. British Columbia is in third place, with 3,818 gambling venues.