SkyCity Auckland Casino Resort: the first major gaming property to fully lift COVID-19 restrictions

Today SkyCity Auckland in New Zealand became the world’s first major IR casino to operate without capacity restrictions as the government eased Covid-19 restrictions in the city

As from today October 8, SkyCity Auckland got back to normal operations without restrictions on mass gatherings and physical distancing requirements, following the government’s announcement on Monday that Auckland will move from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1 of the Covid-19 Alert System.

Alert Level 1 – assumes that Covid-19 is contained – implements the wearing of masks and social distancing, but lifts the restrictions on gatherings of more than 100 people set out under Alert Level 2.

However, the government explained, “Controls at the borders remain for those entering New Zealand. This includes health screening and testing for all arrivals, and mandatory 14-day managed isolation or quarantine,”.

The property was forced to close for two weeks in August after the national government moved Auckland to Level 3 of its novel coronavirus (Covid-19) alert system and introduced a three-day lockdown in the city.

SkyCity Auckland has 2,100 slot machines and over 100 table games on the main floor, with nearly 1,000 hotel rooms and suites, over 20 restaurants and bars, and approximately 200,000 square feet of convention space. The casino additionally has a private VIP space for high rolling guests, and a 20-table baccarat room. Nonetheless, its distinctive attraction is the Sky Tower that stands 1,076 feet tall and is a staple of the Auckland skyline.

SkyCity Hamilton and Queenstown have been operating at Alert Level 1 since 22 September. However, those casinos are much smaller operations. SkyCity Auckland is thought to be the first major gaming property to fully lift covid-19 restrictions.

In September, SkyCity reported a 36.8% increase in revenue to NZ$1.13bn and the year also saw SkyCity’s online business make its first contribution to group revenue, bringing in $10.2m.

To date, New Zealand has been able to limit the spread of coronavirus through border restrictions and had just reported 1,858 COVID-19 cases and 25 deaths.

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