Camping Close To Casino Rama

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Located just minutes from Orillia on beautiful Lake Couchiching at the Narrows – part of the Trent Severn Waterway and just down the road from Casino Rama. Hammock Harbour has 2 cabins and 2 yurts overlooking the lake as well as the campground. The number one camping app. From resorts to hike-in spots. Amenities, maps, truck stops, rest areas, Wal-mart and casino parking, RV dealers, sporting goods stores and much more. Two modes: one uses GPS and maps that you can filter. One is an offline manual lookup mode for when you don't have service. Truck and Travel The number one trucker app. Restaurants near Casino Rama Resort, Rama on Tripadvisor: Find traveler reviews and candid photos of dining near Casino Rama Resort in Rama, Ontario. Parking at rear of casino on asphalt; dry camping; short walk to casino gaming floor; doesn't seem to be any restriction on amount of time parked, as I've seen trailers, 5'ers, motorhomes parked most of summer there.

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Fifteen people have been arrested in a major casino scam that netted more than $2 million from cheating at baccarat in Ontario.

Among those arrested were several employees of Casino Rama near Orillia.

It's alleged that casino dealers were recruited to predetermine the outcome of card games, but police wouldn't reveal details of how the scam was carried out.

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Investigators are calling the sting the largest in memory, said OPP spokesperson Sgt. Bob Paterson.

Baccarat, popular with many gamblers, is a hard game to play and one that's difficult to cheat in, said Paul Burns, vice-president of the Canadian Gaming Association.

Burns said it's troubling, albeit not surprising, that inside help would be enlisted.

'Employees, by and large, that work in the gaming industry are honest folks. But ultimately you need checks and balances in the casinos and that's why there's surveillance. That's why dealers deal cards but they don't count money and they don't count chips,' he said.

'I'm sure the tactics of how they recruited these people would be interesting in its own right.'

The charges follow a 44-month investigation into an alleged international casino cheat team.

The investigation involved the OPP, Windsor police, the FBI and police from several American states.

U.S. authorities said the scheme targeted 18 gaming parlours in Canada, California, Nevada, Mississippi, Louisiana, Washington state, Indiana and Connecticut.

The scheme netted $3.3 million (U.S.) from the American casinos, according to U.S. indictments unsealed yesterday.

However, interim U.S. Attorney Karen Hewitt in San Diego said the actual losses could be much higher.

'We are not aware of any other cases of this magnitude,' said Kathy Leodler, acting head of the San Diego FBI field office.

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The OPP initiated its investigation after receiving information from the California justice department.

'Only one casino was affected (in Canada), and it was Rama,' Paterson said.

Seven of those arrested were scheduled for bail hearings today in Orillia and eight others will make their first court appearance in the city, 115 kilometres north of Toronto, on June 26.

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All are charged with fraud over $5,000 and cheating at play, while some face additional charges.

The operation bears the mark of organized crime in the sense that those involved knew each other, Paterson said. 'It took some co-operation and planning.'

Casino Rama had no comment on the arrests yesterday.

'Because it's an ongoing OPP matter, we don't comment,' spokesperson Jenna Hunter said.

'Integrity and security are priorities at Casino Rama and at all (Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation) locations,' she added.

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Police have outstanding arrest warrants for seven more people, from Windsor, Barrie, San Diego and Las Vegas.

'They obviously have been tracking these guys and I suspect there's some organization created to do this and they've watched them to ensure they catch them all,' Burns said.

The international aspect of the case reflects the tendency of cheats to move to different venues, he said.

'They probably move from casino to casino. Cheats do that. From what I know and have been told and heard, they generally move around.'

At the same time, law enforcement agencies work together to combat gaming fraud, he said.

'They share information, descriptions of people and how they operate. There's a lot of information sharing.'

'The OPP and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission have people who are specialists in tracking cheats and identifying cheats. And they train the casino surveillance people on what to watch for. They track cheaters because there are known cheaters who operate around,' Burns said.

'If the casino knows who they are and suspect cheating, sometimes they just ask them to leave.

``They usually oblige and then move on. On the other hand, if they catch them in the act, they'll throw the book at them.'

The arrests are troubling but provide evidence that surveillance works, he said.

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'The fact people were arrested says the checks and balances and the regulatory environment worked. I think people can take confidence that the games are fair.

`` The fact people were arrested says the checks and balances and the regulatory environment worked,' Burns added.

WITH FILES FROM the Star's wire services

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It appears gamblers will be able to continue to roll the dice and take their chances at Casino Rama despite widespread concerns about the global COVID-19 pandemic. At least for now.

Unifor, the union representing most employees at Casino Rama, has asked Gateway Gaming and Entertainment, the operator of the gambling facility, to shut down the casino.

The union is concerned for its front-line employees who could come into contact with someone carrying the pesky virus. Thousands of patrons visit the casino - many in buses from out of town - each day.

Corey Dalton, president of Unifor Local 1090, said he has spoken with union representatives from not only Casino Rama but Gateway Casino Innisfil, Pickering Casino Resort, Casino Ajax, and Great Blue Heron Casino about the issue.

In a statement on Facebook posted late last night, Dalton said union officials from each of those gaming facilities favour a shutdown.

But Gateway, apparently, has no plans to close the doors.

“At this point, none of the sites have any plans whatsoever to temporarily stop operations at these facilities,” Dalton said in a statement.

“The province of Quebec has shuttered all of their casinos in response to the outbreak - this is the reasonable response until we know more about the virus' potential,” said Dalton.

He said the union asked the company about potential enhanced measures to protect workers. “None of the workplaces were able to provide any examples (such as) increased cleaning, social distancing, screening for symptoms, sanitation at tables and/or machines,” said Dalton.

“To say I am disappointed in the response of these employers would be a dramatic understatement,” Dalton posted. “COVID-19 is an international epidemic, to which most of the scientific community still does not remotely understand.

'The only consensus from the medical community is that avoiding contact with groups of other people is the most effective way at staying safe and reducing the virus' spread.”

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Simcoe North MP Bruce Stanton said his office has fielded calls from Casino Rama employees concerned about the working conditions at the casino.

“They have a right to be (concerned),” Stanton told OrilliaMatters Saturday.

“There is an issue here. It is a regulated space and it behooves the Province of Ontario to ensure (Gateway) is getting serious about this and/or stipulating” new protocols to protect staff and customers.

He suggested Gateway could remove stools at slot machines and remove chairs at gaming tables to adhere to social distance concerns. He said cleaning regimes should be enhanced so that customers cannot access slot machines until they are sanitized.

“They have to change their practices,” said Stanton. “To think they can just carry on, sort of business as usual … is ludicrous.”

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In a phone conversation Saturday, Dalton told OrilliaMatters he is no longer able to comment on the issue. He referred comments to Unifor’s national office.

An email to Natalie Clancy, Unifor’s Director of Communications, was not returned in time for this story.

Multiple calls and emails to Rob Mitchell, the spokesperson for Gateway Entertainment, also were not returned.

The buffet restaurant at the casino has reportedly been closed and the Tim Hortons inside the casino has also reportedly closed.

Dalton, in his Facebook post, said the union is “continuing to lobby the employers and the government to take the safety concerns of Local 1090 members seriously; to provide measures so that workers don't have to choose between paying their mortgage, rent, bills - or risking their health.”

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He also reminded workers to be vigilant.

“Please remember your rights under the Occupational Health & Safety Act. If any worker feels their safety is in jeopardy, immediately inform your supervisor that you are exercising your right to refuse unsafe work under Section 43 of the Act.

“You have the right to continue to refuse work that you believe is unsafe, without fear of reprisal or discipline, until an Inspector from the Ministry of Labour determines otherwise.”

Dalton also encouraged workers who are showing signs of illness to seek medical attention.

“Visit your doctor and express your desire to 'self-quarantine' for 14 days to help prevent the potential spread of this virus,” Dalton said in his post. “You will need to provide a medical note to the employer in this instance. Persons who get medical direction to self-quarantine can apply for EI benefits which currently have no waiting period.'

Dalton said he is disappointed in the way this has unfolded. He called on the casino operator “to do the right thing: temporarily pause operations at your facilities and ensure the health and safety of our members is protected.”

Casino Rama opened its doors on July 31, 1996.

At one point, the casino turned a profit of about $1 million a day.

While increased competition has hurt the local gambling facility, it has been called the 'jewel of the crown' of Ontario's resort casinos.

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The hotel and entertainment centre have helped cement the casino's place as a popular destination in Ontario.

Since opening in 1996, the casino had never closed its doors to the public - until last month. On Feb. 26, the casino received a bomb threat. As a result, the casino, hotel and entertainment centre were evacuated.

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The facility was shut down for about four hours before it was reopened.