Casino Rama Resort reopens after evacuation due to bomb threat

Casino Rama Resort in Orillia, Ont. has reopened after it was evacuated for nearly four hours on Wednesday following a bomb threat.

Rob Mitchell, spokesperson for Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Limited, said the threat was received by the Orillia detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police.

The OPP warned the resort at about 2 p.m., he said. Casino Rama received an "all clear" from the OPP shortly before 6 p.m., he added.

"Everything is back to business as usual," Mitchell told CBC Toronto.

"We're relieved it's over with, but it was a very orderly evacuation. Our guests were very patient and everything ran very smoothly."

Mitchell said resort staff members, with the help of the OPP and Rama police, immediately began to evacuate the resort once they were told of the threat.

"We immediately undertook to evacuate the facility. That included all our guests at the hotel, on the gaming floor and the entire facility was evacuated and went into lockdown," Mitchell said.

All entrances were closed.

Some guests went to the community centre across the street from the resort run by the Chippewas of Rama First Nation. Others waited in their cars, while some were taken to a hotel near the property

"We did a floor by floor sweep of the hotel, every room, the gaming floor, administrative offices," he said.

At 6 p.m., the resort opened its doors and staff and guests returned.

In a series of tweets, Casino Rama Resort said earlier on Wednesday that it evacuated the building in the interest of public safety.

"Our priority is ensuring the safety of customers and employees while the police continue to investigate this threat," Casino Rama Resort said. 
 
According to OPP Const. Martin Hill, officers helped Rama police and casino staff deal with the incident.

Neither casino nor the police have provided any details on the substance of the threat.

On its website, the casino calls itself "Ontario's only First Nations Resort casino." The website adds: "Located on Rama First Nation, a progressive community rich in history, the property was built and designed to pay homage to the culture and proud heritage of Rama First Nation."

The resort has more than 2,200 slot machines, 60 gaming tables, restaurants, an entertainment centre and a hotel.