The Star Gold Coast is reopening casino gaming from midday today

More than 1000 workers left in the lurch by the coronavirus crisis will be back at The Star Gold Coast from Friday as gaming returns to the casino.

MORE than 1000 workers left in the lurch by the coronavirus crisis will be back at The Star Gold Coast from Friday as gaming returns to the casino.

Come midday, The Star will have almost entirely reopened apart from Harvest Buffet, which has been converted to a staff member dining room for the time being.

Chief operating officer Jess Mellor said: “It’s a critical part of our business. We’re not really The Star without the casino.

“We’re incredibly excited to be opening the rest of our property – all the gaming spaces to both members and non-members from midday.

The Star Gold Coast's chief operating officer Jess Mellor and gaming operations supervisor Annita Gibson are excited to reopen gaming on midday Friday. Picture: Jerad Williams

“We have about 2500 staff at The Star Gold Coast overall and about 40 per cent of our team members will be back as we head into these Stage 3 restrictions. We’ll continue to stand up more team members as our business can expand in line with the restrictions easing over the coming weeks and months.

MORE NEWS

‘It’s freaking awful’: Family rocked by brazen break-in

‘Hundreds’ of Coast cops needed for border blockade

Victoria’s top cop delivers stern warning

“There’s been an incredibly big human impact on our team over the past three-and-a-half months, since we were forced to close March 23.”

Ms Mellor said the “energy around the property has been incredible” as Star emerged from the COVID-19 closure.

“There’s lots of smiling faces and they’re struggling not to give each other a hug when they see other,” she said.

“It was kind of spooky here for a while, just me wandering around.”

The Star Gold Coast workers Emily Berry and Matthew Tran preparing tables when restaurants reopened in June. Picture: Jerad Williams

Ms Mellor said she had “good days and bad days” during the unusual situation.

“But it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – how can we make our business better, stronger and more resilient going into the new normal?”

Gaming operations supervisor Annita Gibson returned to work on Monday.

The Star worker of almost a decade was lucky to receive the Federal Government’s JobKeeper payment after the shutdown, but not all staff were eligible and some were assisted by multimillion-dollar Star support schemes.

“It all happened very quickly,” she said. “Sunday night, March 22, I was watching TV and the live broadcast came on stating the casino would close at midday the next day.

“It was really surreal – the casino never closes, it’s a 24/7 operation. It’s hard to wrap your head around.”

Gaming operations supervisor Annita Gibson. Picture: Jerad Williams

Ms Gibson said there was “lots of anxiety” among workers initially.

“Because the casino closed very suddenly … the casino granted us all two weeks pandemic leave, which was awesome for them to step up and do that.
“There’s a lot of team members that are paycheck to paycheck, they’re supporting families. I’ve spoken to several in the last few days and asked them about their experience over the last three months and some have really struggled.”

Ms Gibson said JobKeeper was a “lifesaver” for her and many other colleagues.

While international guests are still off the cards, The Star has been buoyed somewhat by Queenslanders holidaying at home. Another surge of guests and patrons is expected once border restrictions ease on July 10.

The Star’s gaming area will have to abide by government COVID-19 guidelines.