Manitoba pilot project will keep casinos open 24-hours on weekends

WINNIPEG — Gambling all hours of the night and day may soon become an option for Manitobans.

Starting Dec. 2 Manitoba’s casinos will be open for 24 hours a day on the weekends.

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It’s part of a four-month pilot project.

That means Friday they’ll open at 10 a.m. and remain open until Monday at 3 a.m.

Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries said this is a model it’s trying to follow from other provinces like B.C., Ontario, and Quebec with many of their casinos.

“Shift workers and others getting off work might want to stop by and play at the casino,” said Susan Olynik with Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries.

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The decision comes just weeks after the premier said he believed the province was already “over-serviced.”

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On Sept. 15, in response to a question on a casino in The Pas moving to Winnipeg, Brian Pallister said, “We are the most over-serviced province in the country when it comes to gambling.  I want people to have jobs. I want people to have opportunities to grow and learn and help each other and gambling isn’t going to do that.”

On Thursday Pallister said he still stood by those remarks but added his “personal” views on gambling could not come in the way of growth.

“I stand by these remarks … I may not particularly have any fondness for gambling, but I don’t want to live in a society where the premier tells everybody they can’t either,” said Pallister.

Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries anticipates the pilot project will show an increase in revenue. At the same time, it’s reminding gamblers there are information centres onsite to talk about responsible gaming.