Australia and New Zealand’s casino industries have been buffeted by uncertainty amid the global havoc that the coronavirus continues to wreak. Gambling establishments have found themselves have to close and reopen sporadically in response to the proliferation of the virus.
Gambling venues in ACT speak out
Clubs in ACT have been lobbying the government to allow their reopening as the closures have severely affected their collective bottom line with some businesses facing the prospect of permanent closure with customers heading elsewhere to satisfy their needs.
These statements are far from hyperbolic as several ACT clubs like the Kaleen Eastlake Club have already had to close down for good. A significant number of other similar businesses find themselves facing the same eventuality.
The Average pokie in New South Wales has seen an 89% increase in activity since regional restrictions were relaxed with the City of Queanbeyan showing some of the best performance in the region with a turnover increase of 453%. This can be attributed to ACT residents crossing the border in search of poker machines.
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith put the government’s position into perspective, saying, “It is about managing the cumulative risk to our community of people coming together, intermingling in situations particularly where there may be alcohol involved, where they may lose some of their inhibitions or may stay in a venue for a length of time.”
ACT resolution
The clubs’ complaints did not fall on deaf ears and restrictions on ACT gaming venues, strip clubs, and brothels were eased shortly thereafter. Dine-in service can now be offered at food courts and pubs, clubs, and bars no longer have to enforce patron limits.
Casino Canberra reopened on August 8 after 5 months of hampered activity with several anti-pandemic measures in place.
- A limit of 100 seated customers at any given time.
- Only one customer for every four-square meters.
- Patrons and staff must submit to temperature checks upon arrival.
- Reduced player numbers at each table.
- Chips are regularly cleaned.
- Special protective screens are installed at table games.
- Patrons may not physically touch playing cards.
- Employees clean pokies after each punter uses them.
A COVID-19 marshal is present to monitor staff and patrons’ adherence to the rules.
SkyCity grounded in Auckland
ACT punters have reason to celebrate, however, these in New Zealand are facing a daunting situation. After 100 days without any documented infection, COVID-19 has made an unwelcome reappearance in the country.
Four new cases were recorded by government officials who identified the cause as community transmission.
Auckland is now back on stage 3 restrictions for three days with the rest of the country on stage 2. The stage 3 measures are fairly severe but have previously been highly effective, they include:
- Restricted travel to and from Auckland.
- A limit of 10 people at gatherings.
- Bars and many other businesses must temporarily close.
As a result of this SkyCity casino in Auckland has once again had to close the doors to its casino and entertainment facilities with the hotel remaining open for existing guests. These measures only apply to Auckland, leaving SkyCity’s Queenstown and Hamilton locations remaining open for business for the moment.
