It’s not clear when Delta residents will be able to drop a few bucks at a new casino close to home.
Work continues on the $87 million Cascades Casino Delta in Ladner but with a reduced on-site workforce due to COVID-19 public health restrictions.
Gateway Casino & Entertainment Ltd. earlier this year, prior to the coronavirus pandemic outbreak, confirmed the opening date for the complex next to the interchange of highways 99 and 17A was set for late 2021.
Gateway also engaged with a third party to build and operate the hotel on the property.
However, it’s not clear if that grand opening time is still considered realistic.
Gateway spokesperson Tanya Gabara said so far, most of the underground work for the casino/hotel parking is nearing completion and construction has now started to pour the elevated slab on which the complex will be built.
To date, over 1,100 foundation piles have been placed to an average depth exceeding 60 feet.
"The uncertainty around the current COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a main focus for us and all Canadians. All of our resources are focused on re-opening our existing casinos and adjusting to the challenges of the ‘new normal’ that COVID-19 has brought to the gaming industry. Once we have re-opened our operations, we will be able to provide further details on the project,” Gabara added.
Located at the former Delta Town & Country Inn site, the facility will include a 40,000-square-foot gaming floor with up to 600 slot machines and 30 gaming tables, as well as a Match Eatery & Public House, a buffet and Atlas Steak + Fish restaurant.
The B.C. Lottery Corporation approved the project three years ago, following Delta council’s earlier approval, but the provincial Ministry of Transportation didn’t sign off on the project until 2019.
Meanwhile, in other casino news, Great Canadian Gaming’s deal to be acquired by a fund affiliated with Apollo Global Management Inc. has been granted approval by the B.C. Supreme Court.
Great Canadian operates 26 gaming, entertainment and hospitality facilities in the country including the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, which was forced to close along with other B.C. casinos due to the pandemic.
The City of Richmond was opposed the Delta casino application.
