With casinos having to close their doors effective Saturday under new public health orders issued this week, it means major layoffs are happening at both Casino Regina and Casino Moose Jaw.

The Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation says 327 people (238 unionized and 89 non-union) at the two establishments are being laid off as of Monday. These employees comprise gaming floor and back-of-house staff and management at Casinos Regina and Moose Jaw, as well as SaskGaming corporate staff.  These temporary layoffs
are in addition to the 251 permanent employees who have remained on temporary layoff since April 3.

In a release, Gaming Corporation spokesperson Shanna Schulhauser says temporary layoffs are being made under the public emergency provisions in the Saskatchewan Employment Act.  She adds SaskGaming is being met with even greater challenges than they were at the end of March which has resulted in the corporation needing to make considerable changes,

The layoffs could be extended past the 28 days that the health order is in effect for.