Christchurch Casino facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christchurch Casino |
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Logo of Christchurch Casino
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Main entrance to Christchurch Casino on Victoria Street
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| Address | 30 Victoria Street Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Opening date | 1994 |
| Total gaming space | 43,998 sq ft (4,087.5 m2) |
| Casino type | Land |
| Owner | Premier Hotels (Christchurch) Limited Skyline Enterprises Southern Equities Limited Queenstown Tourist Co Limited |
Christchurch Casino is a building in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is a place where adults can play casino games. This casino was the very first one to open in New Zealand. It opened its doors in 1994.
The building is quite large, covering about 43,998 square feet. Inside, you can find 500 slot machines and 34 table games. There are also three restaurants and two bars for visitors. Only people aged 20 or older are allowed to enter the casino.
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Who Owns Christchurch Casino?
The ownership of Christchurch Casino has changed a few times over the years. It's interesting to see how different companies have been involved.
Early Ownership Changes
In 2004, a company called SkyCity Entertainment Group bought a large part of Christchurch Casino. They purchased a 40.5% share from another company. This deal cost SkyCity about NZ$93.75 million.
At the time, Skyline Enterprises also owned a big part of the casino. They had a 41% share. Skyline Enterprises did not want SkyCity to buy more shares. They even tried to buy the shares themselves but were not successful.
Why the Ownership Changed
The chairman of Skyline Enterprises, Barry Thomas, was worried. He thought that if SkyCity owned more shares, they would have too much control over casinos in New Zealand. SkyCity would have had an interest in five out of six casinos in the country.
However, the deal was still approved by the authorities. They decided that the purchase would not stop fair competition in the casino market. SkyCity said that buying these shares made sense for their business in New Zealand.
One reason for the purchase was a law passed in 2003. This law, called the Gambling Act, made it illegal to open any new casinos in New Zealand. This meant existing casinos became more valuable.
Skyline Becomes Main Owner
In December 2012, the two main companies, SkyCity and Skyline, made a new agreement. SkyCity sold its shares in Christchurch Casino to Skyline for $80 million. At the same time, SkyCity bought Skyline's shares in another casino, Skycity Queenstown, for $5 million.
Because of this new deal, Skyline Enterprises became the main owner of Christchurch Casino.
Future Plans for the Casino
Christchurch Casino has plans to grow even more.
Building a New Hotel
In November 2016, the casino announced that it would build a new hotel. This hotel is planned to have 200 rooms. It will be a convenient place for visitors to stay.
To make room for the new hotel, the casino bought more land. In September 2017, they purchased a large piece of empty land next to the casino. This land is about 4,047 square meters in size.
New Zealand Poker Championships
Christchurch Casino is also known for hosting a big event. It is the home of the New Zealand Poker Championships. This is a major competition for poker players in the country.
See also
In Spanish: Casino de Christchurch para niños
