New Zealand’s SkyCity Entertainment of New Zealand has reported an enthusiastic response to the reopening of its gaming operations in Auckland and Hamilton. As reported by Asia Gaming Brief, since the doors opened on May 14, customer response has been “encouraging.”
“Domestic customers have returned to the SkyCity properties despite limited capacity, restrictions around mass gatherings, and physical distancing requirements,” said the company in a statement.
Electronic gaming machines have performed well, table game revenues have been steadily improving after a slow start, and hotel occupancy averaged 32 percent, surging above 90 percent on weekends.
Entry to all SkyCity’s New Zealand casinos is restricted to its Premier Rewards members as a health and safety measure.
Food and beverage revenues were also on the rise, but the company expected these to remain “significantly lower” until the country moves to Alert Level 1.
SkyCity’s CEO Graeme Stephens said the properties are currently cash positive and turning a profit; even so, the company will proceed with plans to lay off 700 staff members, which should save around NZ$50 million per year. It is also developing “a funding plan to support the business over the medium-term,” in a business Stephens said would be leaner and more focused on domestic business.
New Zealand has currently gone 12 consecutive days without any new cases of coronavirus.
