Crown Perth Casino Set to Re-Open after 3-Day WA Lockdown

Casino and hospitality operator Crown Resorts announced in a filing to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) today its Crown Perth casino property will re-open starting from Saturday, May 1, 2021, in line with easing the restrictions in the Perth metropolitan area and Peel region by the Western Australian Government.

Casino Games Resume

Following the 3-day lockdown implemented earlier by the government in Western Australia (WA), Crown is set to re-open all facilities including gaming and non-gaming operations, in compliance with remaining restrictions.

Casinos are still limited to the prescribed maximum cap of 2 square meters per one person, requiring the deactivation of every second electronic gaming machine and electronic table game.

Besides physical distancing, enhanced hygiene protocols remain in place to ensure a higher level of safety as for the employees, so for the guests of the amenities.

Crown said in the release it would “continue to work closely with the relevant authorities” in WA and would respond to every measure implemented by the Western Australian Government in relation to any future coronavirus developments.

The lockdown which affected Crown Perth began on Tuesday, April 27, and the casino stopped all gaming activities, food amenities and conventions, while the hotel and other services such as take-away dining were allowed to continue.

The lockdown which according to reports was announced after a man placed in hotel quarantine socialized in the community and allegedly spread the infection further kept pubs and cafes open but besides casinos, gyms and nightclubs had to temporarily seize operations, too.

Crown in Bad Shape

The re-opening of Crown Perth is rare good news for the casino operator especially after developments in New South Wales, following the final report from the inquiry which revealed links to organized crime syndicates and possible money laundering and forced the hand of the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) to decide the operator was unsuitable to hold a casino license.

The NSW inquiry findings prompted another regulator, the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulations (VCGLR), to launch a deep dive into Crown Resorts operations at its Melbourne casino property, a probe which is still ongoing but already dishing heavy financial sanctions for the operator.

In March, Blackstone Group, holder of a 9.99% stake at Crown Resorts threw a lifeline for the troubled company by offering to buy the outstanding stock for AU11.85 per share, in a total valuation of AU$8 billion.

Reassessing the impending risk of Crown Resorts losing any of its casino licenses permanently, Blackstone amended its offer later on to include safeguards against possible adverse developments.