Christchurch Casino
Whare Petipeti o Ōtautahi (Māori)
Logo of Christchurch Casino
Main entrance to Christchurch Casino on Victoria Street
Address 30 Victoria Street
Christchurch, New Zealand
Opening date1994
Total gaming space4,087.5 m2 (43,998 sq ft)
Casino typeLand
OwnerPremier Hotels (Christchurch) Limited
Skyline Enterprises
Southern Equities Limited
Queenstown Tourist Co Limited
Websitewww.christchurchcasino.co.nz

Christchurch Casino is a casino in Christchurch, New Zealand, owned by Skyline Entertainment. The 4,087.5 m2 (43,998 sq ft) casino was New Zealand's first when it opened in 1994. The casino operates four hundred fifty slot machines and thirty-two table games. The property has two restaurants and one bar. Entry is restricted to patrons over 20 who are dressed accordingly.[1][2]

Ownership

On 29 June 2004, SkyCity Entertainment Group announced that it had settled the acquisition of Aspinall (NZ) Limited, which held a 40.5% shareholding in Christchurch Casinos Limited. The purchase price was NZ$93.75 million (on a debt-free basis). The deal marked the end of an era for Aspinall.

Skyline Enterprises, which controls a 41 per cent stake in the casino, had opposed SkyCity's purchase of a matching stake from Aspinall earlier in 2004. As part of his resistance to the deal, Mr. Thomas refused to cooperate with overdue diligence. Skyline had attempted to purchase the 41 per cent stake from Aspinall but had been rebuffed.

Skyline Enterprises chairman Barry Thomas had objected to the SkyCity purchase on the basis that it gave SkyCity an interest in five out of six New Zealand casinos. The deal was nonetheless approved by both the Casino Control Authority and the Commerce Commission. In clearing SkyCity's application, the Commerce Commission said that the deal would not substantially restrict competition in the Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin casino entertainment markets.[3]

SkyCity Entertainment Group Managing Director, Evan Davies, said that SkyCity's acquisition of the shares in Aspinall and its interest in CCL was a logical extension of its New Zealand operations and in line with the company's investment strategy. The acquisition was motivated in part by the 2003 Gambling Act which outlaws the opening of any new casinos in New Zealand.[4]

In December 2012, both partners reached a deal, in which SkyCity sold its shares in the casino to Skyline for $80 million, and bought Skyline's 40% stake in SkyCity Queenstown for $5 million. As a result, Skyline Enterprises became the major owner of Christchurch Casino.[5][6]

Expansion plans

In November 2016, Christchurch Casino announced it will build a 200-room hotel.[7] In September 2017, it purchased 4,047 square meters of adjacent bare land at auction.[8]

In October 2023, to bypass New Zealand restrictions on online gambling, Christchurch Casino launched an online casino licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority.[9]

New Zealand Poker Championships

Christchurch hosts the New Zealand Poker Championships.[1][10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Christchurch Casino – General Information". Archived from the original on 5 June 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
  2. ↑ "Christchurch Casino | Activity in Christchurch - Canterbury, New Zealand". www.newzealand.com. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  3. ↑ SkyCity Completes Casino Deal Archived 13 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine SkyCity gets nod for casino purchase Archived 7 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ SkyCity press release:Cleared To Buy Interest In Christchurch Casino
  5. ↑ "SkyCity sells out of Chch – takes over Queenstown". The New Zealand Herald. 20 December 2012. Archived from the original on 26 December 2012.
  6. ↑ "Skyline buys out partner SkyCity". stuff.co.nz. 20 December 2012.
  7. ↑ McDonald, Liz (26 November 2016). "Christchurch Casino to build $85m, 200-room hotel". stuff.co.nz.
  8. ↑ "Christchurch Casino snaps up land for development". stuff.co.nz. 4 September 2017. Archived from the original on 19 July 2020.
  9. ↑ Jamieson, Debbie (27 September 2022). "Christchurch Casino to bypass NZ rules by launching online gambling platform in Malta". stuff.co.nz.
  10. ↑ "2023 New Zealand Poker Championships". Christchurch Casino. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
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