Three weeks after many casinos in Ontario abruptly and suddenly shut down, Casino Rama is finally set to reopen.
Gateway Casinos and Entertainment has announced the casino east of Orillia will reopen its gaming floor at 10 a.m. Tuesday. It is the last of the company's 14 Ontario casinos to reopen.
Gateway, on April 16, originally said its Ontario casinos were being closed due to a system-wide "malfunction," but later admitted they were hit by a ransomware attack.
The company has refused to provide any details about the attack. They would not shed any light on the source of the attack or disclose if they paid the unspecified ransom.
After cancelling some shows at Casino Rama's entertainment centre in the wake of the sudden closure, the shows resumed a week later. Throughout the ordeal, the hotel stayed open as did two restaurants and the spa, but the slot machines and gaming tables remained still and silent.
Gateway then announced it would gradually reopen its casinos, starting with its Innisfil location almost two weeks ago. Since then, all the other properties re-opened — with the exception of Casino Rama.
As a result, many of the casino's non-unionized employees have been without a pay cheque for just over three weeks. It's not clear if the casino's unionized employees faced the same fate.
According to a social media post by Gateway, Casino Rama's slots and table games "will be available for customers to enjoy" starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday morning.
In addition, Weirs, St. Germain's Steakhouse and Centre Bar will also be available at various times, while Simcoe Yard House and the Couchiching Court Buffet are expected to re-open later in the week.
Upcoming shows at the entertainment centre will proceed as planned, officials say.
Visit www.casinorama.com or their social channels for the most up to date information.
