Proof of vaccination goes over smoothly on first weekend at Casino Regina

The first weekend in which many Saskatchewan businesses required proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test for customers to enter has come and gone.

So how did it go?

Casinos are one type of business that falls under the new rules.

Shanna Schulhauser is the director of communications with the Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation, which runs Casinos Regina and Moose Jaw.

In an interview, she said the weekend went extremely well.

“Guests have been overwhelmingly understanding and supportive of this new requirement,” she said.

That being said, there are some minor changes at Casino Regina.

Customers can only come into the building through the main front entrance, that is so more staff members aren’t required to check vaccine status at the other two entrances.

Because of that, the casino hasn’t had to hire extra workers.

“All of the requirements are being fulfilled using our current work force,” Schulhauser explained.

It was a bit of a logistical issue to figure out, but compared to earlier capacity limits or being completely shut down, it was a piece of cake for casino operators to figure out.

“One of the big things is we’ve gone through this pandemic. Everybody who has been impacted has learned so much, so this is something where we just sort of evolved from where we originally were,” Schulhauser continued.

While she said they have had to turn away a few people, she said it’s a pretty small number.

“All in all, our guests have been really supportive of this,” Schulhauser said. “Obviously, there’s always a few little kinks that come up, but it’s all things that are manageable, and we’ve certainly been doing a good job to this point.”

Casinos are just one group among the entertainment facilities where people now need to show proof of a vaccine. Theatres, bingo halls, concerts, sports games and more fall under the new rules.