Two casino venues have received approval to make temporary changes to their gambling premises in order to make sure they guarantee safe operation under alert level 2.
Last week, SkyCityHamilton Casino and Christchurch Casino addressed the local Gambling Commission, asking to be allowed to establish temporary cashiering facilities in their venues – one for SkyCity Hamilton and two for Christchurch. Both of them got their applications approved on September 6th.
The two casinos planned to open under alert level 2 but such a move required the approval of New Zealand’s gambling regulatory body so that the changes were made in line with the existing requirements regarding venue capacity and social distancing measures.
In its decision, the country’s Gambling Commission noted that the establishment of additional cashiering facilities has not raised any issues of regulatory concern. The gambling regulatory body’s statement said that facilitating cash access at casinos was an issue that required thorough consideration. Still, considering the ongoing situation with Covid-19, and more specifically, with the Delta variant of the coronavirus infection, New Zealand’s Gambling Commission decided it would be more appropriate to approve the cashiering facilities on a temporary basis in both SkyCity Hamilton Casino and Christchurch Casino.
Both Casinos’ Applications Approved by New Zealand’s Gambling Commission
SkyCity Hamilton Casino addressed the Gambling Commission, seeking approval to create a couple of well-defined zones in its gambling area. The casino venue has revealed that each of the zones is planned to feature its own entry and exit points. The areas were also planned to be separated by temporary hoardings.
As revealed by the New Zeland’s casino operator, one zone would only host poker machines (also known as pokies), while the other zone would host gaming tables and machines.
At the time it made its submission to the country’s gambling watchdog, the operator of the Christchurch Casino – Christchurch Casinos Ltd – revealed it was willing to establish five defined areas in the venue, each of which to be served by their own cashiering facility. Such a change, however, first required the approval of two temporary cash facilities in order for the regulator to make sure that each of the five defined areas that have been planned by the casino company could operate effectively and be self-sufficient.
According to the casino’s submission to the local Gambling Commission, such a temporary change would help the gambling venue minimise the movement of people and limit the potential spread of the coronavirus infection.
As mentioned above, the changes regarding the establishment of the temporary cashiering facilities were permitted for both casinos. The gambling regulatory body noted they were only valid under alert level 2, which does not allow indoor social gatherings of more than 50 people and outdoor social gatherings of more than 100 people. Current Alert Level 2 in New Zealand was officially announced by Dr Ashley Bloomfield, the country’s Prime Minister and Director General of Health, on September 7th.
- Author
Daniel Williams
