The first truly global epidemic in centuries has left the planet in a state of confusion and panic. All around the world, economies are crashing leaving many businesses scrambling for survival and the gambling sector is no exception.
Australia has taken measures similar to many countries, compelling its citizens to stay at home and practice social distancing if they need to go out into public. Crown Resorts, a major gaming and entertainment corporation, has felt the effects of this with their business slowing down significantly in recent weeks.
Crown operations suspended
Crown Resorts announced in early March that it would be adhering to all prescribed safety measures. The electronic gaming tables and slots at its Melbourne casino venue were shut down, but the casinos themselves remained open, drawing widespread public criticism.
In light of the fact that the strict measures imposed by the government to fight the spread of COVID-19 require all non-essential; businesses to completely halt operations, Crown’s decision to remain partially open drew the ire of many.
Crown Resorts announced on March 23 that it’s Perth and Melbourne entertainment divisions would halt operations completely. The company shut down its conference, gambling and food & beverage activities at these venues, however, the hotel accommodation and meal delivery arms of the business remained functional.
Crown saw fit to shut down the gaming services aspect of its business after the Victorian Deputy Chief Health Officer and the Australian government issued directives. With the futures of Crown’s 20,000 staff in the balance, the company’s CEO has advised that a lot of thought is going into mitigating the financial damage caused by the pandemic.
Crown Resorts equal to the challenge
Brick and mortar casinos inherently lend themselves to higher potential infection rates because of how many people could make contact with various surfaces and machines within. Crown resorts, despite having to weather major financial losses during this time, is confident that once the national infection rate is brought under control, it will be able to resume business and more than compensate for the “downtime”
Stay safe means stay home
Online casinos have emerged as one of the few business sectors not taking heavy losses because of the pandemic. Online operators have seen a significant increase in player enrolment in the last few weeks as players who would normally frequent physical casino venues are now turning to online real-money casinos for their gambling entertainment. Many online casinos have experienced a boom in account registration numbers as players flock to make up for their inability to visit their favorite gambling spots.
The best online casinos
The forced lifestyle change that many are experiencing may end up converting them to prefer playing at online casinos.
Choosing an online casino can seem daunting as you will be spoiled for choice, however, there are a few things to look out for to ensure that you are making the best possible choice for yourself.
A good starting point when choosing an online casino is to see whether they offer a no-deposit bonus which allows you to sign up and tour a casino without making an upfront financial commitment and sometimes you may even get a free chip to try your luck with.
The standard for online casinos is quite high across the board so there will be many different types of bonus offers to entice you into joining up with them. For the most part, you can expect airtight security measures and a wide variety of games in different categories that you can enjoy from the comfort of your home. Whether you’re after real money pokies, table games, or baccarat, there is something to cater to your tastes and desires.
