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According to The Province, casino operators are ready to accept customers as soon as they get the green light from the authorities. Chuck Keeling, executive vice-president of Great Canadian Casinos, said: "It won't be official until the provincial government announces it, but at the moment we're getting ready to use the term casino we're all in, in terms of preparation. for July 1." Great Canadian Casinos operates nine casinos in British Columbia, such as Hastings Park in Vancouver and River Rock in Richmond. Keeling added that the group has already recalled hundreds of employees who have been out of work since March 2020, when the lockouts began. The B.C. general staff union represents about 3,200 casino employees, including security guards, maintenance staff and card dealers. During the pandemic, these workers remained casino employees despite not working, and they are now set to return. Some hospitality businesses are reporting labour shortages; Keeling said some areas "will face some of these systemic challenges in the marketplace". To comply with Covid-19 security measures, once the casinos open in July, they will all have new features. For example, slot machines will be placed in accordance with the principles of two-metre social distance; they will also include plexiglass barriers on the card tables and cash registers. Specific details, such as whether there will still be mask-wearing on the premises, have yet to be confirmed as part of the relaunch plan. However, the casinos have made sure they are better equipped to meet the standards required to open later this week.
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