When it comes to gambling in New Zealand, Christchurch Casino is one of the most well-known establishments. The casino has been operating for over 30 years and in that time, its licensing and renewals have been a source of controversy. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the history of Christchurch Casino’s licensing and renewals. We’ll see how the process has changed over the years and what challenges the casino has faced in trying to keep its doors open.
Christchurch Casino has been operating for over 30 years and in that time, its licensing and renewals have been a source of controversy
Christchurch Casino has been operating for over 30 years and in that time, its licensing and renewals have been a source of controversy. The casino was first licensed in 1987, with the license being renewed every five years since then. The most recent renewal was granted in 2012, despite strong opposition from the local community.
Christchurch City Council voted against renewing the casino’s license by 10 votes to 9, but the decision was overturned by the Government Licensing Board. Issues that have been raised in the past include the operation of a casino without an Act of Parliament and the potential for the casino to be used for money laundering.
The first license for Christchurch Casino was issued in 1987 and then renewed in 1992, 1997 and 2002. Over that time there were several issues raised about the appropriateness of the granting of the license.
The first issue was the potential for money laundering at the casino. It was claimed that many Chinese gamblers were using the casino as a front for money laundering. It was said that because of its location and its role in attracting people from a wide area of the South Island, it made it an attractive location for money laundering.
In 1997, the casino was lobbying for a 10-year extension to its license. The licensing committee decided to reduce the period to 5 years, stating that it was likely that a new casino would be built in Christchurch within 5 years. The committee also raised concerns about facilities for women and stated that one of the reasons for reducing the term was to ensure that these were developed before the casino was licensed again.
In 1998, Ngāi Tahu Holdings took ownership of the casino and later launched a $100 million refurbishment. The casino was relaunched as ‘Casino Christchurch’ with a larger bar area and a new restaurant.
In 2001, the casino was sold to Sky City, which paid $33.5 million. In 2003, Sky City began an expansion of the casino. This included demolishing the old restaurant and expanding the gaming space by 5000m². The expansion cost $30 million.
We’ll see how the process has changed over the years and what challenges the casino has faced in trying to keep its doors open.
When it comes to casinos, there is nothing quite like Christchurch Casino. This world-renowned gambling destination has been thrilling visitors for decades and shows no signs of slowing down. But what many people don’t know is that behind the scenes, operating a casino is no easy feat. There are constant licensing and renewal processes that must be navigated to keep the doors open – something that has become increasingly difficult over the years. Now, however, the Christchurch Casino is getting a much-needed overhaul.
The renovation project is aimed at sprucing up the casino’s image and increasing its appeal. For one thing, there is a new management team in charge and they have decided to completely revamp the entire look of the casino. Along with this change, they have also changed things up a bit on the casino floor itself – specifically about the poker room.
The poker room was one of the first areas to receive an overhaul. It was also the area that most needed an update, as the room was outdated and seemed very weary. Few features differentiated the poker room from any other casino table in the building. However, the renovations have fixed that, in many ways, with new furniture and new decor. The poker room is much more inviting, now, and players are already flocking to it.
Christchurch Casino is operated by Christchurch Casino Limited. The casino is owned by Community Trust of Canterbury, an organisation that is often criticised for its operations. The Community Trust mainly manages trust funds donated by members of the public and the casino is a source of significant income for this trust. The Community Trust has been reported on numerous occasions for its appropriateness in managing funds and its management of Christchurch Casino has been heavily scrutinised.
