Casino brings in new jobs

Photo: Contributed

Lake City Casino in Vernon is bringing back the live table experience and some lost jobs.

Starting this week Lake City will re-introduce five gaming tables where you can play Blackjack, 3 Card Poker, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em, creating 15 new jobs.

Several jobs were lost when the company decided to get rid of the live tables several years ago when the casino relocated.

Director of Public Relations Tanya Gabara says the community wanted the tables back and so they listened.

“The previous decision was based on when we relocated the facility, we had thought that bringing in the electronic tables would be something more exciting for our patrons. However that has not been the case. We have heard lots of feedback saying they wanted the live dealer tables back, we made the decision to bring back 5 live tables.”

Gabara was unclear how many jobs were lost when the tables were originally taken away but said the reintroduction is creating new employment opportunities, with more to come when they open their new eating establishment in the casino.

Vernon Chamber of Commerce General Manager George Duffy says a large employer like this creating jobs in the Okanagan is great news.

“They are one of our large employers in town so if they're going back on hiring process now and getting people back I think that is great for the community,” said Duffy.

Duffy says in Vernon any employer who has over 50 employees is considered a large employer.

The North Okanagan and Vernon has a slightly higher unemployment rate than the rest of the Okanagan and Duffy hopes this will help.

“Within the last couple years we have lost a few major employers who have moved out of the area, and with the closure of the KVR railway, there has been quite a lot of turbulence. So to see a company like Gateway Casino's taking the initiative to do some hiring, that is great news.”

All the new live gaming tables will be open at 6 p.m. daily, 7 days a week.