Casino Canberra, located in the Australian Capital Territory, has become the latest casino to suspend operations after the national capital entered into a seven-day lockdown from 5pm Thursday.
Operator Aquis Entertainment confirmed via an ASX filing that it had closed and “will not reopen until advised it is approved to do so by the ACT Government under Public Health Directions.”
The company added, “The majority of staff have been stood down immediately and will be able to access government support during the lockdown.”
The closure of Casino Canberra comes after the territory recorded four cases of COVID-19 this week – the first local cases in more than a year.
It also becomes the third Australian casino currently closed with The Star Sydney having suspended operations on 25 June due to the growing outbreak of the Delta variant. Another 345 cases were reported on Thursday.
Crown Melbourne, which suspended operations for one week on 5 August, has seen Victoria’s lockdown extended by another week until 19 August after the state recorded another 21 cases Thursday.
Star Entertainment Group’s Queensland properties – The Star Gold Coast and Treasury Brisbane – reopened earlier this week after being closed for eight days due to a smaller outbreak in the area.