In keeping with an order from the BC Government, all casinos and community gaming centres will close at the end of day today, March 16, because of COVID-19 concerns.

That includes both Kamloops Casinos – Cascades Casino and Chances Casino – which are operated by Gateway Casinos.

In a statement, Gateway Casinos says it is not sure how long the closures will be in effect.

“We will provide an update on when we will re-open taking into account guidance from BCLC, OLG, and public health authorities,” said the statement.

Moments after the province ordered casinos closed, BCLC confirmed that it expects casinos to be closed by 11:59 p.m. tonight.

“Together with our service providers, in anticipation that a directive was likely imminent, the industry came to a consensus on March 15, that casinos should suspend operations,” said the BCLC statement. “[We then] began working with service providers to plan an orderly shut down.”

BCLC put the health of players, employees and communities at the forefront and took measures over the last number of days, informed by ongoing recommendations from

The casinos will reopen once BCLC gets clearance from the government that it is safe and appropriate to do.