Casino Rama Resort is in the midst of an ambitious redevelopment to “bring back the excitement” to Rama First Nation.

Friday marked the grand opening of Match Eatery and Public House located just inside the main doors to the rotunda.

Executives from Gateways Casinos, Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG), the Alcohol and Gaming Comission of Ontario (AGCO) and Casino Rama joined with local politicians, business leaders and staff to celebrate and talk about the casino’s renewal in what has become a highly competitive casino marketplace.

Chippewas of Rama First Nation Chief Ted Williams said the casino is making a “comeback” as a destination to vacation, experience great food and enjoy entertainment. 

“Post COVID, things are moving. Things are happening. We can feel it. We can feel it in the community. We can feel it in the facility. We are turning the corner. We are getting stronger and stronger,” he said. 

“What we have here in Match is one of the finest restaurants north of Barrie. We are very proud of this facility and the work that is being done to enhance the experience of the clientele that come to this facility,” he added.

Williams has been involved in the casino’s development since 1994. The facility opened its doors to great fanfare in 1996.

“I am extremely proud of what Casino Rama has meant to the community for 29, almost 30 years now. Over the course of that time, the payroll that has left Rama amounted to $2 billion. That’s a huge economic impact over the past 30 years,” he said.

The casino is featuring The Zac Brown Band tonight and Saturday night.

“Zac Brown is one of the biggest bands that we’ve had here at the facility,” said Glenn Trickey, vice-president of operations at Gateway Casino’s Casino Rama, who has been working at Casino Rama since it opened in 1996.

“There has been a lot happening here at the site over the last year and there’s still more to come,” said Trickey.

In light of more competition with casinos in Wasaga Beach, Toronto, Innisfil, Niagara, North Bay and elsewhere, renewing Casino Rama is “essential,” Trickey said.

“We are a destination resort. We need those other amenities that makes it an enjoyable guest stay,” he said. 

Gateway Casinos is investing million of dollars in Casino Rama as part of an “ambitious redevelopment” of the property, said Tolek Strukoff, CEO and president of Gateway Casinos.

Redevelopments include a larger and expanded spa on the first floor of the hotel, new carpet, bars and slot machines on the gaming floor, hotel rooms are being renovated, the rotunda is being revamped, among other things.

Casino Rama will soon boast three Gateway Casinos branded restaurants: Match Eatery and Public House, Chow Lucky Noodle Bar, which opened last fall, and Atlas Steak and Seafood Restaurant, which will be developed in the St. Germain’s space.

“This is the first property in Ontario with three of our brands and we are very proud to have them here at Casino Rama Resort,” said Strukoff.

“All these new investments will complete our outstanding entertainment offerings. We are confident these renovations will position the property for long-term success,” he said. 

Jim Warren, chair of OLG, said the project has come together through joint efforts between the four key partners: Rama First Nation, OLG, Gateways Casinos and the AGCO.

“It’s our core four that make great things happen. When we all work together anything is possible,” he said.

In an interview with OrilliaMatters, Warren said efforts are still being made to get the audiences back to pre-COVID levels.

“There’s been challenges since COVID across all entertainment, but we’ve seen the team at Gateway making a lot of new investments for new products and services,” said Warren.

“It’s a great mix of live entertainment, this restaurant, which is family friendly restaurant, bringing different types of amenities. The casino is just one part of it,” Warren said. “It’s the spa, it’s the hotel, its the restaurant, it’s the entertainment. It’s all these non-gaming amenities that make it an exciting place to be.”

Casino Rama has just under 1,100 employees. When it first opened, there was 1,800, said Trickey. The number came down with competition, but it is back up over COVID levels, he added.

Trickey said this summer should be a boon to business given the low Canadian dollar and the political climate that is motivating more people to vacation in their home province.

“We are in cottage country. We have a beautiful space and we have a solid concert lineup, even with the Zac Brown Band coming this weekend.”

Also at Match’s opening was Ron Wong, of Mackaywong, which specializes in hospitality design.

“We did all the interior design of Match, the noodle bar, the gaming floor, the hotel, the spa. I’ve worked on this property for the past 20-plus years,” he said.

“I think Gateway has taken over a strong product here and they’ve done a lot of investment recently to build the other amenities around the gaming piece,” he said.

“Some of the other facilities are underwhelming … this is a destination place that is casual and comfortable,” Wong said.