Australian gaming operator Aquis Entertainment, which owns and operates Casino Canberra in the country’s capital, is no longer eligible for Covid-19 JobKeeper funds due to a strong recovery at the end of 2020.
In a January 12 filing reported by Inside Asian Gaming, the company confirmed it was eligible for Phase 2 of the JobKeeper program, which ran from September 28 to January 3. However, “Casino Canberra’s trading performance over the December quarter was strong and returned to approximately pre-Covid levels,” the company said. As a result, Aquis does not qualify for Phase 3 of the government program.
Aquis said all employees were recalled in the fourth quarter of 2020, even though the property was still operating under some restrictions. Casino Canberra is currently limited to a total capacity of 505 patrons.
“The business continues to operate according to its Covid Safety Plan, as required by the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) government, which is reviewed daily and updated based on the latest advice issued by the ACT Government,” Aquis said.
