Casinos are still not yet open to the public in Ontario despite being one of the businesses permitted to resume operations in the 24 regions entering Stage 3 today.

Access to the regulations and statutes are provided for convenience only. For the up-to-date and accurate text, please see the official volumes of the legislation and regulations. You may obtain copies of Ontario statutes and regulations from e-Laws, or from the ServiceOntario Centre located at located at 777 Bay Street (College Park Building. Legal Betting FAQ: Terrestrial and online gambling laws of Ontario in 2020. Ontario is perhaps the most famous of all provinces in Canada. It is certainly the most populated of them all, home to 38% of the nation’s total population, and the second largest by area. Casino Woodbine is amid a significant expansion project slated for 2022 completion. And, the casino count will soon hit 29 when the new Pickering Casino-Resort opens its doors. All but five of Ontario’s casinos are Vegas-style with slots and table games. The other five stick to gambling machines. Despite having access to a home-grown iGaming destination, gambling with internationally regulated online casinos is not illegal in Ontario. The Criminal Code of Canada stipulates that gambling houses with a physical presence in a province, are only illegal if they are not licensed by that province.

The province released a new framework document at the beginning of this week which outlines everything that is and isn't allowed to happen under Stage 3, and it specifies that casinos are technically allowed to open — although table games at casinos and gaming establishments are not.

In Stage 3, nearly all business will reopen including:
✅Dine-in restaurants and bars
✅Gyms
✅Most personal care services
✅Live shows and movie theatres
✅Casinos
✅Recreational facilities
✅Team sports and events
✅Guide and tour services pic.twitter.com/ug5Y1PRmr7

— Doug Ford (@fordnation) July 14, 2020

The document also notes that indoor gathering limits apply for casinos, meaning a maximum of 50 people — subject to physical distancing of at least two metres with people from outside their households or social circles — are allowed to be inside a casino at any given time.

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Rob Mitchell, the director of communications and public affairs for
Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited, told blogTO there are currently no set reopening dates for any Gateway locations, including:

Casino Rama - Orillia
Gateway Casinos - Innisfil
Gateway Casinos - Sault Ste. Marie
Gateway Casinos - Sudbury
Gateway Casinos - Thunder Bay
Gateway Casinos - Clinton
Gateway Casinos - London
Gateway Casinos - Sarnia
Gateway Casinos - Woodstock

'Any plans for re-opening must be independently reviewed by a health and safety subject matter expert and submitted to the regulator, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO),' Mitchell said.

This is the reason why casinos across the province are not reopening their doors on the first day of Stage 3, but Mitchell did confirm that they've already developed extensive health and safety plans for each site, which includes two metres of physical distancing, rigorous cleaning and sanitation measures, and the mandatory use of masks or face coverings for all individuals entering the gaming sites.

Other Ontario casinos and gaming locations have also yet to publicly announce formal reopening dates, but it's likely only a matter of time before the AGCO approves their reopening plans and Ontarians are free to gamble once more.

While the majority of businesses have been operational throughout the province since Ontario first entered Stage 3 of reopening earlier this summer, one type of attraction has remained closed since the beginning of the shutdown: casinos.

Many Ontarians eagerly awaited their reopening when they were listed as one of the business types permitted to open under Stage 3, but those residents were met with disappointment when casinos across the province announced that they would remain shuttered despite the go-ahead.

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That's finally about to change, though, as the Great Canadian Gaming Corporation has announced that they're reopening their 11 Ontario locations at the end of the month.

In a news release issued Friday, the corporation said the 11 properties — which include Casino Woodbine, Casino Ajax, and the Great Blue Heron Casino — will be reopening on September 28 after first closing down on March 16.

Locations will be adhering to provincial guidelines which state that indoor gatherings must be limited to a maximum of 50 people, and table games and other amenities will also remain closed for the time being.

Gamblers will only be allowed to use slot machines, and they'll have to reserve their spot online before showing up in person.

Health and safety measure will also be in place, including mandatory mask usage, social distancing, plexiglass barriers and more.

The company is also set to reopen locations in New Brunswick at the end of September, and they're currently working with the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation on a reopening plan for the province.

Locations in British Columbia, meanwhile, will remain closed as mandated by the provincial government.

'Once open, gaming revenues in each jurisdiction will be significantly reduced due to operating restrictions,' said CEO Rod Baker in a statement.

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'The reductions will be especially significant for our Ontario properties where, due to the 50-guest maximum restriction, we expect no material financial benefit to the Company from our 11 Ontario locations.'