SkyCity Auckland Confirms Temporary Closure
SkyCity will close its casino in Auckland next week from the 9th until the 13th of September as a result of a settlement made due its licence suspension. Last month, SkyCity reached an agreement with the department of internal affairs (DIA) to settle the case which was related to the branch in Auckland.
SkyCity has confirmed that this period of closure is set for the second week of September. The temporary closure is limited to the gaming area, dining sections and bars. The hotel and other areas of the SkyCity Auckland are not affected by the measures and will remain open. It is expected that the temporary closure will lead to a loss of $5 million.
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$5 Million Dollar Loss
In February 2022, a customer who visited the branch in Auckland filed a complaint about the casino not complying with the responsible gambling requirements. The failures allegedly happened between August 2017 and February 2021. The DIA came to the conclusion that there was misconduct at SkyCity for its continuous play policy. The case was settled in August 2024 leading to a five-day closure. The closure is expected to lead to a loss of NZ$5.0m.
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Responsible Gambling Failure
SkyCity’s CEO Jason Walbridge acknowledged that the casino operator failed in its responsible gambling policy. Walbridge underlines that the gambling operator is doing its best to improve its responsible gambling detection systems. Walbridge states:
We did not achieve the required standards. Whilst we’ve made significant progress in enhancing our risk management across the SkyCity Group in recent years, there is still yet a lot more progress to be made. We are actively working on these improvements and remain fully committed to prioritising the well-being of our customers. We recognise that holding a casino licence is a privilege that carries substantial responsibilities and duties. We have implemented a multi-year transformation programme to strengthen our gambling risk management.
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Risk Management Strengthening
In response to the failures that took place between 2017 and 2021, SkyCity implemented a multi-year transformation programme in 2021. This programme is aimed at strengthening risk management. This effort includes bringing in new directors with specialised risk expertise and forming a dedicated risk and compliance committee. Additionally, the company has tightened its internal audit capabilities, enhanced external audit oversight, and appointed a Group Chief Risk Officer. SkyCity has also implemented mandatory carded play at its four New Zealand casinos by mid-2025, with plans to extend this to the Australian market as well. In Australia, a SkyCity branch can be found in the city of Adelaide.
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New CEO Assumed Leadership in July 2024
In April 2024, SkyCity announced Jason Walbridge as its new CEO, who succeeded Michael Ahearne. Walbridge has a lot of experience in the gaming industry, spanning over a period of two decades. Before taking on the role at SkyCity, Walbridge held several senior positions in prominent gaming companies. He spent 18 years at Aristocrat Leisure Ltd, where he occupied various executive leadership roles both in New Zealand and the United States. After Aristocrat, he took on key positions at the providers Light & Wonder and NYX Gaming Group.
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