Video Lottery Terminals (VLTS) came back online Monday. (Submitted photo/Western Canada Lottery Corporation)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Re-Open Saskatchewan

Local bar responds to return of VLTs

Jul 6, 2020 | 4:59 PM

Video Lottery Terminals are back online in Saskatchewan.

The provincial government announced the machines would start running again as of Monday at a press conference last week. The province shut down VLTs March 20 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a media release the province said they had worked to develop proper cleaning protocols and also to make sure good physical distancing is practiced.

Sean Dieno, general manager at Boston Pizza, which has some VLTs, said the restaurant is happy to be able to offer the machines to patrons again.

“We’re pretty excited about it, a little bit nervous just regarding the limitations and stuff like that,” he said.

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Dieno explained they will only be operating two of their machines so they will be in compliance with physical distancing requirements. Staff will also be cleaning the machines regularly. He added he has not been able to find information on specific protocols through Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC), which has the contract to operate and maintain the machines in Saskatchewan.

“Its kind of make it up at your own discretion and we’re just trying to find a nice balance that works for everybody,” he said.

Early Monday morning, the province announced bars that host VLTs will be getting a temporary increase in the commission they get from the machines. Until Jan. 3, venues will see their commission go from 15 per cent to 25 per cent.

Dieno speculated the increase in commission could possibly push venues to expand their current layouts to allow for more machines to operate under the current circumstances. He added the increase in commission is overall welcome news.

“It’s a nice compensation for still having to have restrictions throughout COVID and being so limited on machines,” he said.

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn