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The owner of Chances Kelowna has sent a letter to the Ministry of Finance, the BC Lottery Corporation, the Public Health Authority and Dr. Bonnie Henry. Stan Walt wants to know what it's going to take to get his business operating again.
Inside Chances, some of the slot machines have been removed, while others have been re-spaced to keep people apart and a ventilation system has been activated that can replace the air inside several times each hour.
The surveillance systems also allow the casino to monitor who is wearing a mask and who is failing to follow guidelines on physical distancing. The next step is to get the conversation going with the authorities. So far there hasn't been a lot of dialogue.
"Unfortunately, no," said Walt. "There hasn't been a lot of dialogue with the PHO or the ministries involved. They have taken the direction of the public health officer which in April was, 'Casinos will be the last to open'."
Walt doesn't expect the green light to open immediately, but he's hoping that his casino and others be considered as orders are loosened.
"Certainly when they are loosened," he said, "but not too far down the road."
He admits they can't be considered essential, but Walt asks what business is? "How many non-essential services are open in our community today?"
The letter calls for the establishment of a committee to lay out what it will take to get his business and other casinos open again. But most of all, it's simply asking for a conversation.
"I ask only for a sincere and educated dialogue," he writes.
He told NowMedia the stakes are high, especially for the 150 employees who are out of a job. "We suffer with a lot of people laid off, searching for jobs," said Walt. "They struggle from a perspective of mental health and physical health, financial health."
The one thing that may increase Walt's chances of success on the question of casino re-openings is the money at stake. Gambling is a huge source of revenue in BC, bringing in about $1.25 billion each year.
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