Coronavirus: Star cuts casino hours for cleaning

As Las Vegas shuts all its casinos, Australia’s Star Entertainment is cutting gaming opening hours to allow more cleaning.

A croupier spins a roulette wheel at a Star casino.

Star Entertainment is restricting opening hours of its three casinos as it aims to prevent the gaming venues becoming coronavirus hot spots.

The company will close its casinos in Pyrmont, the Gold Coast and Brisbane for four hours each morning to allow for a “comprehensive cleaning process”.

But the restrictions stop short of measures from other countries. On Wednesday, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak ordered the closure of all Las Vegas casinos for at least 30 days, meaning its famed strip will go dark for the first time in almost six decades.

“This is only common sense,” Mr Sisolak said.

“This is not the time for casinos to remain open. This is not a time for community recreation centres, clubhouses, movie theatres and malls to remain open. If your business brings groups of people together, it should not be open.”

Mr Sisolak said while some people won’t agree with his decision to shut casinos, it was the most appropriate cause of action given the rapid spread of the virus.

“I know there will be some who don’t agree with this decision, some who will think this is an over-reaction. I want you to know, I have spent countless hours working with medical experts, the White House, the CDC, labour and industry leaders and I fully believe that this is an appropriate and informed reaction.”

COVID-19 has hit the gaming and entertainment industry hard, with government enforced travel bans stopping the flow of cashed-up Asian gamblers, while Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced tougher measures to combat the virus, including banning non-essential indoor gatherings of more than 100 people.

Star rival, SkyCity, which owns the Adelaide casino, has warned it may have to shut its gaming complexes if the government continues to introduce tougher measures.

Star Entertainment said in a statement to the ASX that moving to restricted hours was purely a precautionary measure to limit the spread of the virus across its gambling and entertainment precincts.

“The Star Entertainment Group is actively engaging with governments in NSW and Queensland and working through our specific position given our properties operate in a precinct fashion,” the company said.

“The Star will adhere to any direct advice we receive from governments.”

The restricted hours will begin on Thursday. The Star Sydney will close from 6am to 10am daily, while The Star Gold Coast and Treasury Brisbane will shut from 4am to 8am each day.

It comes on top of the group shutting down half of its poker machines and increasing the distance between players at table games to limit close contact, given the virus is respiratory spread.

Star rival Crown Resorts has immediately complied with new crowd restrictions. The company said on Thursday it would limit the number of patrons in individual food and beverage, banqueting and conference facilities from 450 people to 100.

“Following consultation with the Victorian and Western Australian Governments, Crown’s social distancing policies at Crown Melbourne and Crown Perth have been amended to revise the restriction on the number of patrons,” the company said.

It has also shut down every second poker and electronic gaming machine as well as increased the distance between people at table games.