Australia: expanded SkyCity Adelaide casino set to open in November

Upgrades to South Australia’s SkyCity Adelaide casino are set to open by the end of November, according to casino officials. The South Australian government hopes to attract interstate and international tourists to the 12-storey complex once borders have reopened.

General Manager of SkyCity Adelaide David Christian said the complex was due to open at the end of November and the recruitment of 800 staff was underway, NCA NewsWire reports. He said refurbishments on the casino were also near completion. The AUD 330 million (USD 238.6 M) expansion will see 120 rooms, restaurants, a wellness centre with a spa, pool and gym and a bar with 360-degree views at the complex.

“One of the key features has been focusing on that it’s a true SA venue; whether it be with the artwork all sourced locally, our food and wine list, down to (local fashion designer) Liza Emanuele designing all-out new uniforms,” Christian said. “It will make an extremely unique product and will be equally one of the best casino, entertainment venue products in Australasia.”

“We’re already taking bookings for December 1. We’re expecting to open the last week of November. We’ll be trail running to make sure it’s perfect,” he added.

South Australia Premier Steven Marshall said the construction was on time and on budget. “(Coronavirus) has kept the number of people coming from overseas and interstate extraordinarily low but when this opens, I think we’ll be coming out of the coronavirus and will be attracting more people to come to the state,” he said. “SA has needed an upgrade to its higher end accommodation... The product we have coming online in SA now compares favourably with anything on offer around the country. There are markets that require this super high level product which we were missing.”

Prices for basic hotel rooms start at AUD 420. There are also 40 suites and a large two bedroom villa which takes up almost one-quarter of one of the floors. The villa will cost AUD 5000 a night and has its own gym, sauna, dining room space and balcony.

The new casino resort will be joined by other large casino openings in the country. The AUD 2.2 billion Crown Sydney is slated to open at Barangaroo early next year, though its hospitality precinct will be open in December. And the Star group is working towards a multi-million rejuvenation of its Gold Coast complex, scheduled to be ready in early 2022.