Gateway Casinos shuts down all Ontario operations due to system wide malfunction

Gateway Casinos and Entertainment, the company that operates Casino Rama near Orillia in Ontario, and dozens of other casinos in Canada, has shut down all of its gaming facilities due to a system-wide malfunction. The announcement was made on the company's Facebook page, stating that the closure would be in effect until further notice.

The statement reads, "All Gateway Ontario sites will close due to a system-wide malfunction until further notice. Casino Rama Resort's hotel and Weirs restaurant will remain open. We apologize for the inconvenience."

Casino Rama, which opened on July 31, 1996, has been open 24/7 continuously until it was forced to close during the province's pandemic shutdown in 2020. The unexpected closure of the casino has left many patrons disappointed and frustrated. 

According to its website, Gateway is one of the largest and most diversified gaming and entertainment companies in Canada, with 29 gaming properties in British Columbia and Ontario and two additional properties in Edmonton, Alberta.

The company has not provided any further details about the system-wide malfunction or when the gaming facilities will reopen. The closure has also raised concerns about the impact on the local economy, as Casino Rama is a major employer in the area.

Despite the closure of the gaming facilities, Casino Rama Resort's hotel and Weirs restaurant will remain open, providing some relief for those who had planned to stay at the resort or dine at the restaurant.

As the situation continues to unfold, patrons and employees of Casino Rama and other Gateway properties await updates on when the gaming facilities will reopen and what caused the system-wide malfunction.