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Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen today ordered the nationwide closure of casinos as the tally of coronavirus cases keeps climbing in the Southeast Asian nation.

The country reported four new Covid-19 cases on Monday, bringing the total number of infected people to 107.

One of the latest cases included a 30-year-old man who had worked at a casino and a karaoke club near Cambodia’s border with Thailand, according to a statement from the country’s Ministry of Health.

The temporary closure of Cambodia’s casinos becomes effective from 23:59 pm on April 1, Prime Minister Hun Sen said during a news conference held earlier today.

The Asian country’s top official said that he “would like to clarify to various gamblers that if you want to gamble, do it tonight […] there is still tonight and tomorrow night.”

Cambodia is among the late adopters of stern measures to arrest the advance of the coronavirus after Prime Minister Hun Sen had tried to downplay the seriousness of the disease early on. The official had even criticized local coverage of the global pandemic for blowing it out of proportion.

Coronavirus cases have begun to increase rapidly in Cambodia in recent days, which necessitated urgent measures to help stem the spread of the virus. Last week, the country’s government ordered the temporary closure of restaurants and bars and introduced limits to entry visas for foreigners.

Tax Exemptions During Shutdown

Prime Minister Hun Sen said today that the Finance Ministry will work with the country’s casinos on tax exemptions while they are closed. In recent years, Cambodia has become a boon for casino gaming activity, drawing patrons mainly from Mainland China, but also from other countries in the region.

The country’s leader said that the casino closures were only temporary and that the gambling venues would be allowed to resume operations once “the situation stabilizes.”

As of December 2019, there were 125 casinos operating around Cambodia, the majority of them run by Chinese nationals. Most of the gambling venues are located along the nation’s borders and in the Sihanoukville Province in the southwest.

The only casino resort located in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh is operated by gaming and hospitality operator NagaCorp. The property generated an estimated $1.8 billion in revenue in 2019.

The temporary shutdown of Cambodia’s casinos comes as a fresh heavy blow to its gaming industry after Prime Minister Hun Sen banned the provision of online gambling services from within the country late last year.

The move resulted in thousands of people losing their jobs and dozens of casinos around Cambodia closing. Most of the country’s online gaming businesses were set up by Chinese companies and targeted gamblers from China where digital gambling is prohibited.

Source: Cambodia PM orders casinos shut down as coronavirus cases climb

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Thousands of workers at Detroit’s three casinos will have their pay stopped as the properties have extended their shutdown amid the raging coronavirus pandemic.

MGM Grand Detroit, Greektown Casino, and MotorCity Casino will now remain closed until at least April 13.

The three gambling venues, all located in downtown Detroit, promised to pay their workers throughout the original shutdown period, which expires tomorrow, March 31.

However, the rapid spread of the dangerous and highly contagious virus across the US has forced the properties to extend the shutdown window through at least mid-April. The casinos informed their workers that they will cease pay beyond March 31, but said they would extend benefits through June 30.

MGM Grand Detroit is owned by Las Vegas casino powerhouse MGM Resorts International, Greektown is owned by major regional operator Penn National Gaming, and MotorCity is owned by the wealthy Ilitch family.

The three properties are Michigan’s only commercial casinos. There are also 23 tribal casinos that operate on the territory of the state. They all closed temporarily after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced earlier this month a ban on large gatherings, among other measures aiming to curb the spread of Covid-19 across the state and the rest of the country.

Detroit’s three casinos all opened retail sportsbooks just days before their shutdown. The launch of the facilities marked Michigan’s official entry into the US sports betting frenzy after Gov. Whitmer authorized the practice late last year.

A Difficult Decision

MGM Resorts International began companywide furloughs and workforce reductions from mid-March, citing the reduced demand due to the unprecedented Covid-19 crisis. All of the company’s casino resorts across the US are now closed in the face of the unfolding health emergency.

In a letter to employees informing them about the looming furloughs and layoffs, MGM President Bill Hornbukle said that “these decisions are never made lightly” and that they “deeply regret the hardships” they will place on affected individuals and their families.

Penn National said this past Friday that it would place 26,000 workers on furlough throughout the coronavirus crisis and until its properties reopen. Aside from Greektown Casino in downtown Detroit, the company runs 40 other properties in 19 states, all of them closed.

Of its extended closure, MotorCity Casino said that the health and safety of its employees is their top priority and that they are hopeful “this temporary closure will have a positive impact on stemming the tide of Covid-19.”

Penn National said Friday that it has set up an emergency relief fund, which now has more than $1.2 million, to help affected workers and local relief organizations.

At MGM Grand Detroit, MGM has, too, set up an emergency relief fund and is understood to be in talks with other companies, including Amazon, to provide employees affected by the workforce cuts with temporary employment.

More than 140,000 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in the US, making it the country with the most confirmed cases. The dangerous infection has killed nearly 2,500 people since the first US case was reported.

Source: Detroit casino workers’ pay stops Wednesday; benefits run through June 30

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Almost all of Atlantic City’s nine casinos have furloughed their workers as the economic fallout from the dangerous coronavirus continues to reverberate across the United States and the rest of the world.

Most of the gambling venues located along Atlantic City’s famous Boardwalk have sent temporary layoff notices to their staff members after their closure earlier this month. The move enables nearly 16,000 casino workers to file for unemployment benefits as uncertainty when the casinos will be able to resume operations grows.

Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the indefinite closure of Atlantic City’s nine casinos on March 16 in response to the global coronavirus crisis. After the Governor issued his order the gambling venues all offered their employees two weeks’ worth of compensation and health benefit extensions.

It emerged that Tropicana Atlantic City’s owner, Eldorado Resorts, offered two more weeks. However, casinos said they were forced to furlough staff due to the uncertainty relating to their eventual reopening.

Mass Casino Layoffs

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City sent a memo to its workers on Wednesday to inform them about the furloughs. The gambling venue said that it would allow eligible staff members to use their accumulated paid time off as well as an additional two weeks of borrowed PTO. This means that some of the casino’s workers will be covered through the greater part of April and will not have to file for unemployment.

Commenting on the unfolding situation, Hard Rock AC President Joe Lupo said that they are “committed to our team members during these unprecedented times, ensuring that our communication has been open and direct.”

Mr. Lupo went on that furloughed employees that apply for unemployment will be able to take advantage of new stimulus packages until the property reopens.

Ocean Casino Resort informed its workers about the layoffs on Thursday. CEO Terry Glebocki said that they are “looking forward to the day when Ocean Casino Resort can reopen and welcome back our team members and guests.”

In a memo to its staff members, Ocean said that the layoffs were temporary and that they plan to reinstate the employment of those placed on furlough “as soon as we have the business needs and are permitted to operate.”

Workers at Caesars Entertainment Corp.’s properties – Bally’s, Caesars, and Harrah’s – were informed of the furloughs on Thursday. Resorts Casino Hotel distributed temporary layoff notices this past Tuesday. The owner of Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, MGM Resorts International, sent companywide notices on March 17.

Boardwalk Remains Open Despite Casino Closures

While all of Atlantic City’s casinos went dark in the face of the coronavirus outbreak, the resort city’s legendary Boardwalk has remained open so people can spend some time outside, exercise, and get some fresh air while practicing social distancing.

Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small said Thursday that he would keep the Boardwalk open for now, but noted that if he continues to “get the information […] of people gathering on the Boardwalk and not practicing social distancing, as quick as I made the decision to keep it open, I will close it without hesitation.”

Source: Mass layoffs begin at Atlantic City casinos

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The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit, has further warned gambling websites and physical gambling establishments not to use the global coronavirus crisis to advertise their products after its first such warning that was issued earlier this week.

In a message posted on its official website on Thursday, Kansspelautoriteit said that advertising materials containing coronavirus-related messages, such as ‘corona-free gambling’ would be regarded as a “penalty-enhancing circumstance” if an unauthorized online gambling operator is discovered to have adopted such promotional approaches amid the global Covid-19 outbreak.

That Thursday message came on the heels of a warning made by Kansspelautoriteit earlier this week that was addressing instances of unlicensed iGaming websites and even illegal brick-and-mortar establishments trying to lure customers with ‘corona-free’ offerings.

Kansspelautoriteit said earlier this week that if an online gambling operator is caught to have adopted such promotional tactics, it could not be granted a license from the Dutch gambling regulator next year when the Netherlands’ online gambling market is set to be reorganized and liberalized.

Under the country’s current law, international online gambling companies are not allowed to target Dutch customers as they do not hold and cannot obtain licenses from Kansspelautoriteit. However, many have overstepped the rules and have faced hefty penalties from the regulator.

The closure of physical gambling establishments across the Netherlands due to the coronavirus outbreak has resulted in the surge of activity in the iGaming space, which, paired with the emergence of ‘corona-free’ offers, has prompted Kansspelautoriteit’s warnings.

Hefty Fines to Be Slapped on Unscrupulous Operators

Kansspelautoriteit said Thursday that advertising ‘corona-free’ products is a penalty-enhancing violation that increases the amount of an errant online operator’s penalty by at least €50,000.

That minimum additional fine can be raised, depending on the nature of the promotional content and its reach. Operators running illegal gambling establishments will, too, be punished more heavily if caught advertising their offering by using references to the unfolding global situation.

Kansspelautoriteit noted that the provision of online gambling services in the Netherlands is already prohibited and is subject to a minimum fine of €200,000. This means that an unauthorized operator advertising its offering by using coronavirus references could be slapped with at least €250,000 for its violations.

News about Kansspelautoriteit’s plans to severely punish companies and their advertising partners for the unscrupulous use of a global pandemic to boost their business arrives as one gambling operator – Flutter Entertainment – warned its affiliate partners not to take advantage of the Covid-19 spread and that it would immediately suspend any affiliate caught referencing to the crisis in promo content advertising Flutter’s brands, including Paddy Power and Betfair.

Soure: Offering ‘Corona-free’ leads to higher fine

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Hong Kong-listed gaming and hospitality operator Melco Resorts & Entertainment has closed its casinos in the Republic of Cyprus for four weeks as the tiny Mediterranean island nation grapples to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Melco was forced to close its properties in Cyprus after the nation’s Council of Ministers ordered that certain private businesses suspend operations for the next four weeks as part of a wider set of measures adopted on the island amid the global Covid-19 crisis.

In Cyprus, Melco operates a temporary casino in the City of Limassol that will remain operational while its €550 million City of Dreams Mediterranean integrated resort is under development as well as four satellite casinos in the capital Nicosia, Larnaca, Ayia Napa, and Paphos.

The gaming and hospitality giant was forced to temporarily shut its Cypriot casinos just several weeks after the opening of its fourth satellite facility in Paphos.

In February, Melco had to shut its properties in Macau for two weeks as China, where the dangerous coronavirus is believed to have originated, was struggling to contain the Covid-19 outbreak.

Earlier this month, the major integrated resort operator had to also close the casino at its City of Dreams Manila property in the Philippines after lawmakers and regulators in that country ordered the closure of all gambling venues and other non-essential businesses in the face of the coronavirus crisis.

Strongly Alongside Local Partners amid Major Crisis

Commenting on the closure of its five casinos across Cyprus, Melco Chief Operating Officer International Andy Choy said that “in these challenging times that call for extreme measures, we rally behind the Government of Cyprus and the actions implemented to curb the spread of Covid-19.”

Mr. Choy went on that they fully support Cypriot lawmakers’ decision to order the temporary closure of entertainment facilities across the nation and that this measure is in the best interest of all.

The Melco COO also pointed out that they are “standing alongside our local partners and the entire tourism industry who have prioritized the safety of their personnel and guests with the utmost responsibility to safeguard their health.”

The company said that it would continue to follow strict cleaning and disinfection protocols at its Cypriot properties over the next weeks.

The Republic of Cyprus was one of the last EU countries to report its first case of the dangerous virus. So far, there have been 58 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the tiny island nation.

The Cypriot government has ordered the closure of shops, malls, restaurants, bars, clubs, coffee shops, hairdressing and beauty salons, sports facilities, betting shops, museums, theme parks, movie theaters, and libraries for at least the next four weeks.

Pharmacies, grocery stores, open markets, bakeries, gas stations, and kiosks remain operational but there are limits on the number of customers that can be present. Hotels have been ordered to suspend operations until at least April 30.

Source: Melco suspends operations of Cyprus casinos

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The American Gaming Association (AGA) has announced that the coronavirus outbreak has caused the closure of 438 commercial casinos in the US, representing 94% of the total number in the country.

An additional 196 tribal casinos have also been closed, 37% of the country’s total.

These 635 casinos represent nearly two thirds of all gaming properties in the country, at 64%.

According to the report, this has had an unprecedented impact on American workers in the casino industry, with 96% of the total US workforce affected by the closures.

The closures have put at risk nearly $59bn in total annual wages for workers and their families.

This will also impact local communities, with casino gaming generating $34.4bn in annual tax revenue and tribal revenue share used to support local hospitals and public services.

Small businesses will also be impacted, with casino gaming providing $52bn annually to other businesses in manufacturing, retail and wholesale.

The AGA estimates the 635 casino closures will cost the economy $21.3bn if it continues for the next eight weeks.

In Europe, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has also confirmed the closure of its bingo halls, casinos, gaming parlours and lotto booths in an attempt to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Casinos in Nevada that had chosen to remain open amid the global coronavirus crisis were forced to bring their operations to an abrupt halt after Gov. Steve Sisolak, in an unprecedented move, ordered the statewide closure of casinos and all other non-essential businesses.

Slot machines across the Silver State turned dark at midnight Tuesday. At noon today, Nevada’s more than 400 casinos are, too, set to be shut for 30 days.

Several major casino companies announced the closure of their properties in the days leading up to Gov. Sisolak’s order, including Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts International.

Wynn said Sunday night that it would shutter its Wynn Las Vegas and Encore resorts on the Strip for at least 14 days in the face of the Covid-19 spread, while MGM closed its Strip properties for an unspecified period of time.

But others, including gaming and hospitality powerhouses Las Vegas Sands and Caesars Entertainment Corp., said that they would keep their casino properties on and off the Las Vegas Strip open and that they have upped their sanitation efforts to help contain the spread of the dangerous virus that has claimed one life in Nevada so far and at least 108 lives nationwide.

Caesars Closes Properties Across North America, Las Vegas Sands to Pay Employees during Closure

Following news about the imminent closure of all Nevada casinos, Caesars issued a statement on its official website Tuesday night to inform guests and staff that it would temporarily shut down all its properties across North America.

The company’s CEO, Tony Rodio, said that “it has become clear that we must take this extreme action to help contain the virus and protect the safety and well-being of our team members and guests.”

In a letter sent to employees, Caesars said that all full-time, part-time, and regularly scheduled employees would continue to be paid and that their benefit eligibility would not be affected for “up to two weeks.”

Las Vegas Sands, too, issued a statement regarding the closure of its the Venetian and the Palazzo resorts in Las Vegas, saying that its decision was in line “with recent guidelines from federal and state governments.”

The company also noted that it will be paying its team members during the period of closure and that “no layoffs or furloughs are being contemplated and the closure will not impact health care eligibility.”

Station Casinos, Penn National Gaming, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas will, too, pay staff during the closure period.

While some gaming and hospitality companies are willing to pay their employees during the statewide shutdown, other workers in the sector would not be so lucky, which could bring serious financial issues to many Nevada families.

Please, Stay Home for Nevada.

In his Tuesday address to Nevada residents, Gov. Sisolak said that his order will cause a lot of distress, but it is right thing to do to help contain the spread of the coronavirus.

The state’s top official went on:

I ask you: What are you willing to do to save your own life and the lives of those you love? We absolutely must take this step for every Nevadan’s health and safety. Please take this seriously. Lives are at stake, and with each passing day, this pandemic is growing. Please, stay home for Nevada.

The Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which represents more than 60,000 hospitality workers across Nevada, said Tuesday that it supports Gov. Sisolak’s decision to order the closure of multiple non-essential properties and that “health and safety are priorities as we face this global crisis.”

Following the announcement about the statewide closure of casinos, Bill Miller, President and CEO of the American Gaming Association urged the federal government to “act swiftly to bring relief to our friends, neighbors, and colleagues in Nevada and all across America whose livelihoods have been severely impacted by these hard but necessary actions.”

Source: Sisolak orders statewide shutdown of casinos, other nonessential businesses

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Greentube, the Interactive Division of Novomatic, has announced a new deal with Swiss Casinos Group which will see the gaming supplier bolster its presence in Switzerland.

The company was one of the first suppliers to provide its services in the Swiss online market, after legislation introduced last year enabled the country’s land-based casinos to operate online.

Swiss Casinos is the third operator in the country to partner with Greentube, with Casino Interlaken and Grand Casino Luzern both signing similar deals with the supplier.

Michael Bauer, Greentube CGO/CFO, said: “The Swiss online market is just under a year old and we are extremely pleased with how well-received our games have been by both local operators and players.

“The deal with Swiss Casinos, a prominent operator in the territory, is an important step for us as we continue our growth strategy in the country which has quickly become one of our key markets.”

Patrick Mastai, Director of Online Casino at Swiss Casinos, said: “Greentube is known for offering an extensive portfolio of premium games that are extremely popular with players and we are excited about now being able to offer best-selling titles to our customers.”