Casinos in Quebec Canada Open for Business This Month

Following December closures, the Canadian region of Quebec plans to reopen entertainment venues. Casinos may welcome patrons back on the last day of February. According to Quebec’s Prime Minister, the time has come to accept the permanence of Covid-19 and civilisation needs to learn how to live with the virus.

Loto-Québec prepares to open most of its gambling venues on 28 February, with the exception of Casino de Mont-Tremblant. Although the facilities may trade from the end of the month, certain pandemic related restrictions stay in place, which limits attendance. Premier François Legault announced that by mid-March, most restrictions will be something of the past.

The province’s government announced the details of the schedule at the beginning of February and restrictions expire in stages.

 Casinos Reopening with Limits

Casinos within the Loto-Québec group which will open their doors on 28 February are the Montreal and the Charlevoix and Lac-Leamy facilities. Loto-Québec’s gaming rooms, Quebec City and Trois-Rivières, welcome players back on the same day. Casino de Mont-Tremblant prepares to welcome punters back a few days later, on Thursday 3 March.

The Crown corporation revealed that their video lottery terminals are accessible in bars again, from Monday 28 February and Kinzo operations resume that week as well. Trading hours vary and depend on the respective venues, but 1 a.m. operations must end. Casinos may only allow half of their usual client capacity into their facilities from this day.

Customers who wish to visit casinos must have an up-to-date vaccine passport on hand and wear a mask while inside the premises. The staff of the casinos are obligated to wear masks at all times. Despite opposition parties questioning the continuation of mask and vaccine mandates, the premier and Health Minister insist these remain in place.

Although the government’s reopening plan states that bars, restaurants, and other entertainment facilities may open at 100% capacity by 14 March, casinos aren’t included and will likely remain at 50% capacity.

 Learning to Live with the Virus

Premier Legault empathised with the public but explained that although the restrictions may frustrate most people, these are necessary and what allows for the reopening in the first place. Legault emphasised:

“I just want to tell Quebecers that I understand that you’re fed up with these restrictions. But at the same time, I think it’s important that we remember why we have put in place these measures."

With the Omicron wave’s onslaught, Quebec’s government announced it would reinstate Covid-19 countermeasures from the 20th of December. Limits included capacity caps and complete closure of certain facilities. A steady decline in positive coronavirus cases since the middle of January prompted plans for reopening. Premier Legault believes there may be a sixth wave and that these measures prepare Quebecers to live with Covid-19.