SkyCity’s Adelaide Casino will turn off half its pokies in a bid to keep patrons safe
Adelaide Casino will remain open but cut deactivate every second poker machine in a bid to keep patrons and staff safe.
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SkyCity’s Adelaide Casino will deactivate every second poker machine and ensure there is adequate distance between people at seated games in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
SkyCity joined other gambling companies in announcing measures to combat the possibility of patrons and staff infecting each other today.
SkyCity said it would ban standing betting at seated table games, limit numbers at standing games such as roulette to five people per table, and limit promotional draws to reduce the number of customers congregating together.
“Adelaide Casino is continuing to monitor the advice of the Department of Health and Government and our priority is to ensure all our customers and team members are well informed of the situation and to provide a safe environment to visit,’’ SkyCity said.
“If any staff or guests visiting our site report flu-like symptoms, Adelaide Casino has Advance First Aiders who will attend and if necessary isolate unwell persons to assess their symptoms.’’
Melbourne’s Crown Casino announced similar measures.
Crown also said it would keep gamblers apart by switching off every second gaming machine and electronic table, barring standing players at seated table games, and restricting the number of players at stand-up table games to five.
The company will also restrict the number of patrons in its banqueting and conference facilities to 450 people “with a prescribed maximum density”.
Closing its Melbourne casino would be a significant blow for Crown, which reported a slump in gambling turnover from Chinese high rollers, a key demographic, in the half year just ended.
Crown said it has also implemented other measures at its Melbourne and Perth properties, including greater frequency of cleaning and the provision of hand sanitiser.
SkyCity shares dropped 32c to $2.29.