The Star Entertainment Venues Increase Capacity Amid Easing COVID-19 Policies

Article by : Helen Dec 23, 2020

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Updated: Dec 21, 2021

Just like in other countries, many casino employees in Australia were forced to leave their workplaces due to COVID-19. There were also periods when the gambling venues were closed at all. For example, the Star Entertainment Group shut down its casinos in March 2020, and they remain closed until July 2020. However, even after reopening, all the gambling properties had to operate at a limited capacity and follow some limitations. Thus, the Star Sydney and Star Brisbane venues were accepting a limited number of gamblers.

It seems that Australia has managed to do a great job at not letting things go out of control.

More than that, they have stopped the spread of COVID-19, which gives the casinos a breath of fresh air. The Star Entertainment Group is now ready to increase its venues’ capacity, start accepting more guests and get many employees back.

During the pandemic restrictions, the Star Sydney casino was allowed to accept a maximum of 1,800 gamblers. This week, the limitation was changed, and now, the property is allowed to accept around 10,000, based on the square meterage of the venue. This is thanks to the decision of the New South Wales (NSW) government to cancel the restriction, according to which the gambling venues could accept only 1 visitor for every 4 square meters of gambling space. It was decided to allow casinos to accept 1 patron for every 2 square meters.

Queensland has relaxed its pandemic policies as well. The government decided to apply the same 2-meter limitation to the local casinos, which gives the Star Gold Coast and Treasury Brisbane casinos the ability to operate at an increased capacity. Besides easing the limitation on visitors, the government has also backed off the restrictions that were previously imposed on slot machines and table games. Now, the casinos can turn all their slot machines back and start seating up to 7 gamblers per table. It was also allowed to start serving alcohol in the gaming area, which is one more reasonable source of revenue for every casino.

Since the Australian COVID-19 policies have been relaxed, Star Entertainment is now actively making phone calls to its furloughed employees and happily welcoming them back to their workplaces. The company representative said: “The easing in operating restrictions across all three properties will enable us to welcome back additional employees as well as an increased number of our members and guests to safe and entertaining environments.” It’s still rather difficult to estimate how many employees will return back, but with the Star Sydney capacity increasing from 1,800 to as many as 10,000 visitors, Star Entertainment will definitely need substantial help.

It seems that Australia is returning back to normal life step-by-step. However, there are still many European and American countries that are still suffering from the coronavirus consequences, with some of their gambling properties being temporarily closed and the others operating at a limited capacity. Luckily, there is the light at the end of the tunnel, as the vaccine is already being produced and distributed across several countries. The UK, for example, has already started the vaccination process, with the first doses going to hospitalized patients, doctors, and older persons. The newly-selected American President Joseph R. Biden Jr. has set ambitious plans that include distributing 100 million vaccine doses around the country in his first 100 days in office. If everything goes well, the American gambling industry may expect to see a full recovery by 2022.