Casinos around the province, including Grand Villa Casino in Burnaby, have been directed to close by the province.
The BC Lottery Corporation was working to close all casinos in B.C. by noon today due to concerns about COVID-19 (also known as novel coronavirus), according to an information bulletin the corporation released.
The director of public relations for Gateway Casinos and Entertainment, which owns Grand Villa Casino, confirmed they were shutting down.
“The health and safety of our employees and customers is always our highest priority at Gateway,” Tanya Gabara wrote in an email to the NOW. “We are uncertain of how long this closure will be in place but we will continue to work with BCLC and rely on public health recommendations as the situation unfolds. We encourage our customers to regularly check our websites and social channels for updates.”
BCLC said the shutdown was in the works since Sunday.
“Together with our service providers, in anticipation that a directive was likely imminent, the industry came to a consensus on March 15 that casinos should suspend operations. BCLC then began working with service providers to plan an orderly shutdown,” the bulletin stated. “BCLC put the health of players, employees and communities at the forefront and took measures over the last number of days, informed by ongoing recommendations from the provincial health officer.”
The order was issued by Attorney General David Eby.
“Given the current pandemic with respect to COVID-19 and recent statements of the B.C. provincial health officer regarding this virus, I am concerned about the health of British Columbians and other people currently in the province,” Eby wrote in his letter to the corporation. “In consultation with and on the advice of the provincial health officer, it is appropriate for all gaming facilities in the province to be closed to the public until further notice.”
Grand Villa Casino is located at 4331 Dominion St.
This information was current as of Monday, March 16 at 2 p.m., and more information will be provided as it comes in.
