Gaming News

Saskatchewan casino to close

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan -- As reported by the Regina Leader-Post: "Twenty years of Shelly Lambie's working life has been at the Emerald Casino.

"...After years of uncertainty, Lambie said she was 'one of the biggest advocates' of a deal between Prairieland and the Whitecap Dakota First Nation to close the Emerald and open up the province's largest casino 30 kilometres south of the city.

"...On Saturday at midnight, the Emerald will close its doors forever, and about 165 workers will lose their jobs there.

"In a deal imposed by the provincial government on Prairieland and the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA), which operates the province's aboriginal-run casinos, SIGA must pay $2.6 million to Prairieland for 30 years to replace the revenue Prairieland will lose by closing Emerald. The deal also required that SIGA offer a job to anyone working at the Emerald who was interested in working at the new Dakota Dunes casino, which opens Aug. 10 at 9 a.m.

"But according to SIGA, only 31 of 175 Emerald workers applied for jobs at Dakota Dunes. Pat Cook, vice-president of corporate affairs, said all were offered employment, and 28 accepted.

"...Emerald is paying three weeks of severance pay for each year of service to employees who do not move on to Dakota Dunes. Many workers were left in a quandary deciding between a healthy severance package and the stability of a new job, says Michele Kristoff, who supervises the craps table at Emerald..."

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