SkyCity to reopen Hamilton and Queenstown casinos amid easing of restrictions

Gambling Insider
 
SkyCity to reopen Hamilton and Queenstown casinos amid easing of restrictions
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SkyCity Entertainment Group says it expects to reopen its Hamilton and Queenstown casino and entertainment facilities on Wednesday 8 September following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.

The New Zealand Government announced on 6 September that, excluding Auckland, the Covid-19 Alert Level for the country will move to Alert Level 2 from 11.59pm on 7 September.

This allows the operator to reopen its Hamilton and Queenstown facilities, both of which will reopen in a “staged manner and with additional health and safety measures in place to reflect the Ministry of Health’s latest recommendations and guidelines for operating at Alert Level 2.”

The larger SkyCity Queenstown venue will reopen, but the smaller Wharf Casino venue will remain closed due to the ongoing border restrictions which, according to SkyCity, have a negative impact on the local economy, which is largely dependent on tourism. SkyCity Auckland will also remain closed due to Auckland’s Alert Level 4 status.

The operator added that its businesses outside of New Zealand - SkyCity Adelaide and SkyCity Online Casino - remain unaffected by the latest Government announcement, with the former open with physical distancing and hygiene requirements in place.

“SkyCity will provide further updates as new material information becomes available,” the group noted.