Covid-19 had wide-ranging economic effects on the Canadian province of Alberta, with shutdowns between 2019-2022 costing charities as well as the government millions of dollars due to lost casino revenue. One casino, Grand Villa, might have suffered more than the other 20-plus casinos in the province.
Area casinos were ordered to shutter for nearly five months in 2020 and five months in 2021 in response to the pandemic. But Grand Villa Casino was non-operational even longer. In addition to the two ordered closures, they cut back on open days in the fall of 2019 and were completely closed from March 2020 to July 2022.
That did not sit well with the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) which regulates casinos in the province. They held a hearing and revealed that the closures cost the government anywhere from $3.8 million to $4.5 million.
Earlier this year, the AGLC imposed a new license requirement for Grand Villa, ordering them to be open seven days a week. As a punishment, ALGC removed 57 slot machines then said the casino could have them back if slot and table games were accessible for seven days a week. Also the slot machines had to be operational for 14 hours a day, as well as 10 hours daily for table games.
Stephen Rowbotham, regional general manager for Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited Alberta operations, defended the casino’s closure and reduced operating hours during a September 26 hearing. He said they reduced hours when there weren’t events at Rogers Place. The arena is home to the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, a minor league hockey team, and events such as the Professional Bull Riders tour.
Those opposing the closures and reduced hours said the casino has a responsibility to stay open because proceeds go to charitable organizations that depend on that funding.
The three-person panel hearing the arguments sided with Grand Villa, saying they should be able to run their business the way they wanted to.
“Grand Villa should have the ability to decide when to operate, within reason, and in alignment with legislation, regulations and policies,” the decision read.
They did, however, require Grand Villa to give two-week’s notice if they had any notion to change hours.
Lawyers for Grand Villa said the casino has no intention of changing their hours but just wanted the ability to do so if they chose.
