Operations are returning to normal at Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino, which was closed for six days due to one of the worst snowstorms in Buffalo’s history.
More than four feet of snow blanketed the area and with vicious winds, creating white-out conditions. City officials instituted a driving ban in the greater Western New York area.
The storm was responsible for 37 deaths. The upstate New York casino closed at 1 p.m. ET on Friday, December 23.
Many employees and customers figured they could wait out the storm in the comfort of the casino and were a bit surprised when told the facility was going to close down.
Adrea Newbern-O’Reiley told Spectrum News that she went to Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino to pick up her husband. She said she ended up giving other customers a ride too.
“They thought the casino would be a safe haven because they knew it to be a 24-hour establishment,” Newbern-O’Reiley said.
After they left the casino the conditions became extremely dangerous and her vehicle got stranded in a snow drift. Fortunately nine hours later a local dug them out and took them to a hotel.
“This blizzard here was like no other blizzard,” Newbern-O’Reiley said. “To be out in it, I felt like we were in a whole different place.”
Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino wasn’t the only casino that was forced to close its doors. Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, 21 miles away from the other facility, also had to close after the driving ban was put into effect and employees could not drive to work.
That casino was only closed for a couple of days. Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino in Salamanca remained open.
Buffalo’s neighbor to the north, Ontario, Canada was also affected by the weather, fortunately not to the degree that Buffalo’s casinos were.
Elements Casino Victoria, and Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands saw a reduction in hours but did not have to close. Neither did Fallsview Casino & Resort and Casino Niagara, who remained open, though the sportsbooks had to adjust their hours because of staffing issues. Betting kiosks remained open, however.
“It was a challenging holiday weekend, but we made the best of it,” Niagara Casinos President Richard Taylor told CDC Gaming Reports. “While our operations did see a reduction in services and hours, it is the safety of our staff and guests that really matters most.”
