New Zealand casino operator SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited has broadcasted that its 3 gambling-friendly facilities have been fully re-opened without Coronavirus-related social distancing protocols.
In an official filing, the corporation revealed that this decision followed the New Zealand government’s amendment of its four-tier Coronavirus alert warning to Level One. This effectively eliminates all of the previous national pandemic-associated restrictions except those concerning foreign travel.
Synchronized shutdown
SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited has casinos in the New Zealand districts of Auckland, Hamilton, and Queenstown and was mandated by the government to temporarily cease operations at these three venues from March 23 as part of a government-led campaign to curb the spread of a Coronavirus strain that killed 22 locals.
Reopening with caution
The operator was permitted a partial re-opening of these venues in May, under a new governmental ‘health management framework’ which required that gaming floors be split into distinct ‘zones’ that could not simultaneously contain any more than 100 people. The distance between slot machines was increased, and the number of seats at their gaming tables was reduced.
Back to normal
SkyCity CEO, Graeme Stephens, declared in the short filing that all of the mass gathering and social distancing constraints had been removed and that his firm’s venues would soon be returning to ‘normal hours’, resuming their regular promotions and events. He seemed upbeat at the prospect of getting back to work.
“We are extremely excited to be welcoming real money casino players back to our precincts. It will be fantastic to be busy again and able to have the public enjoy the many different facets of our properties. We remain committed to maintaining robust health and safety standards to manage the risks associated with coronavirus and will be encouraging customers to maintain contact tracing via the government’s NZ COVID Tracer app.”
