Crown Sydney is closing one of its VIP gaming halls and cutting 95 jobs due to poor demand from top players. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
After lack of business from the target market for high-profile players, Crown Sydney was forced to close one of its VIP gaming halls and cut 95 jobs.
The game area has been open for about a year at the Barangaroo Hotel. On Thursday, the casino informed employees of the start of a voluntary layoff program. Some workers will be able to fill open positions at the casino, as well as any roles at the company’s properties in Melbourne and Perth.
Crown Resorts confirmed to Sydney Morning Herald That only the “crystal” floor will remain open for the time being. Explaining some of the reasons behind the move, a company spokesperson said it was in response to:
The current macroeconomic challenges facing our industry as well as other Australian businesses.
The target market for Crown Sydney is high rollers, which is why it has no slot machines and a minimum table game stake of $20 AUD ($13 USD). Players who visit the property will now have access to 160 tables and 66 electronic table games only.
This is the latest bad news for the Blackstone-owned casino company. Crown was recently hit with a record A$450 million ($290 million) fine related to widespread failures at its properties across Australia, including money laundering and terrorist financing failures.
