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Inside Scoop
https://www.barrietoday.com/local-news/ ... on-1623090

Impact of Casino Rama job losses 'devastating' for entire region

For two decades, Casino Rama has been referred to as the economic engine of the entire region.

At one point, the popular gaming facility was reportedly raking in $1 million a day, the parking lots were jam-packed and upwards of 2,000 people were working on the gaming floor, in the always at-capacity hotel, in the entertainment centre and fulfilling myriad roles behind the scenes.

But that economic engine has begun to sputter in recent years.

The proliferation of casinos - especially in the GTA where most of Rama’s gamblers originated - has dealt the casino a bad hand.

It’s in part why, after several failed attempts, the employees voted to become unionized three years ago.

Then, just over a year ago, Gateway Casinos and Entertainment won a bidding process to operate Rama and several other casinos in a ‘bundle’ created when the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation divided up the province’s gaming market.

The odds have not improved for Casino Rama employees.

In the year since Woodbine Casino opened and unveiled table games, the number of employees at Casino Rama has fallen from 1,700 to 1,200, according to union officials.

That trend hit a tipping point a few weeks ago when Gateway laid off 65 full-time union members and five part-time members. At the same time, an estimated 40-plus non-unionized managers and supervisors also lost their jobs.

Some fear a combination of reduced service levels, increased automation and the addition of new casinos could be the death knell for Rama.

It has sparked Unifor, the union representing the casino’s employees, to take action.

On Thursday, national Unifor President Jerry Dias will be in Orillia for a ‘Solidarity Rally” that is part of the union’s ‘No Jobs No Dice’ campaign “to preserve good casino jobs in Orillia.” lol

The union’s upper leadership is also meeting with senior executives at Gateway next week and have plans to meet with senior government officials to make their case.

While Casino Rama’s employees hope that campaign is successful - their livelihood depends on it - the stakes are high for many.

The casino has been a cash cow of sorts for Rama First Nation. Not only has the casino employed countless Rama citizens, the casino generates about $7 million annually for the small community.

Under their agreement with the OLG, which runs until 2031, Rama First Nation receives $5.5 million annually from Gateway in addition to 1.9% of gross revenues each year. Typically, that adds up to about $7 million.

OrilliaMatters first reached out to Rama First Nation almost two weeks ago to comment on the job losses and then tried again at the start of this week. However, the band’s spokesperson, citing holidays of some members of council, said she was unable to provide a statement.

Dean Beers, the president of the Orillia District Chamber of Commerce, said the loss of any job resonates in a small community.

“We want all local businesses to do well and prosper,” Beers said of the chamber. “For those people (who lost their jobs), you feel bad for the struggles and difficulties” they are facing.

However, he believes, overall, the forecast is relatively rosy in Orillia. He cited the dozens of new businesses opening in the downtown core in recent years and developments like Matchedash Lofts and the proposed redevelopment of the waterfront.

“Since taking on this role with the chamber in January, I’ve actually been quite surprised by how many jobs are out there,” said Beers.

However, he acknowledged losing “good, stable” jobs at the casino is tough

https://www.gatewaycasinos.com