Casinos in New Zealand were compelled to close August 16 after a new Covid-19 case was identified, possibly of the highly contagious Delta variant.
SkyCity Entertainment announced August 17 that it would close its Auckland, Hamilton and Queenstown casinos, but the group’s Auckland hotels were operational during the shutdown, which was called for three days.
Asia Gaming Brief reported a Level 4 alert in the country during the period, the highest level of lockdown, with Auckland and Coromandel subject to the measures for up to seven days.
SkyCity Adelaide was unaffected by the New Zealand shutdown and “remains open with physical distancing and hygiene requirements already in place,” the company stated.
Other casinos in New Zealand, the Grand Casino in Dunedin and the Christchurch Casino, were also shuttered today, neither have announced an expected reopening date.
Under Alert Level 4, all New Zealanders must shelter in place and can only leave the house to buy food or medical supplies, access medical care, or for socially distanced exercise.
National health authorities said, “It’s possible there are other cases around Auckland and other possible chains of transmission.”
