SKYCITY Entertainment Group
Encyclopedia
Skycity Entertainment Group is a New Zealand
corporation
whose core business is owning and operating casino
s in Australasia
. It is the smallest of four major players operating in the market.
The company's share
s are traded on both the Australian and New Zealand Stock Exchanges, and 2007 net profits are expected to be around NZ$100 million, with the 2006 December half year having operating revenues of NZ$ 419.2 million. The present CEO of Skycity is Nigel Morrison.
The group came into existence in 1996 when the company was established as the owner of the Skycity Auckland
complex. In 1998 it took over the operations from the previous gaming operator.
Skycity casinos often depend to a large degree on several hundred high stakes gambler
s, often from East Asia
, who may gamble hundreds of thousands of dollars in one visit to a casino.
casino on 2 February 1996, Skycity has expanded its operations to several New Zealand and Australia
n cities.
In June 2000, it bought the Adelaide Casino (now Skycity Adelaide
). It added another casino to its portfolio when it opened Skycity Queenstown
in the alpine resort of Queenstown
. In July 2004 it bought the Darwin Casino and Hotel from MGM Mirage
and rebranded it as Skycity Darwin
. Then in June 2004 it acquired a 40.5% holding in the Christchurch Casino
when it bought Aspinal Limited.
, formerly the Adelaide Casino, was bought by Skycity Entertainment Group in June 2000 and officially became the Skycity in April 2001. It has around 70 gaming tables and 950 gaming machines. It has the only table gaming licence issued out by the South Australian Government, giving it a monopoly over the gambling business in the state
is New Zealand's largest casino. Located in Central Auckland, it provides table and slot machine
gaming. The facility includes the 328 metre tall Sky Tower
, two hotels, convention centre, a 700 seat theatre and 18 restaurants and bars. It opened on 2 February 1996.
in 2011. It has around 500 gaming machines and numerous tables.
, formerly known as the MGM Grand Darwin, is the only casino in Darwin
, the capital of the Northern Territory
, Australia. Skycity Entertainment Group bought the casino, which includes a 5 star hotel from MGM Mirage on 23 June 2004, for $140 million US.
is a casino in Hamilton
, New Zealand, that opened in September 2002. It has over 330 gaming machines and 23 tables, a restaurant and a bar, with live music and other performers on Friday and Saturday nights. It is part of the Riverside Centre on the Waikato River
, which includes bars, restaurants, ten-pin bowling and Mega Zone all operated under the Skycity company.
opened in December 2000. It has 80 gaming machines and numerous gaming tables.
Skycity Grand Hotel is a luxury five-star hotel and was officially opened by Prime Minister Helen Clark in April 2005 after costing $85 million. It is not located inside the main complex but is adjacent and is connected by an "Air Bridge". It serves mainly older guests, VIPs and high stake gamblers who play at the casino. Many celebrities have stayed at the hotel including Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and Linkin Park. The Grand features 21 floors and 316 rooms of uncompromising quality. The rooms comprise a range of luxury accommodation options including The Grand Suite, 8 Premier Self Contained Suites, 11 Executive King Suites and 296 Luxury rooms. The room interiors were designed by internationally acclaimed Chhada Siembieda (specialists in luxury hotel interiors and responsible for the acclaimed "W" hotel chain as well as the Hayman Island Resort, Sydney Hilton and the Hotel Intercontinental in both Sydney and in Hong Kong). Facilities and services include 24 hour room service and reception, a heated lap pool, fitness center with personal trainers, sauna, health spa, baby sitting and a hotel doctor.
The casino was originally granted a licence in 1979 and opened at its current premises in 1983. Until 2004 it was known as the MGM Grand Darwin. The SKYCITY Entertainment Group purchased the hotel in 2004 for $195 million and took ownership on 23 July 2004.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
corporation
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
whose core business is owning and operating casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
s in Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
. It is the smallest of four major players operating in the market.
The company's share
Share (finance)
A joint stock company divides its capital into units of equal denomination. Each unit is called a share. These units are offered for sale to raise capital. This is termed as issuing shares. A person who buys share/shares of the company is called a shareholder, and by acquiring share or shares in...
s are traded on both the Australian and New Zealand Stock Exchanges, and 2007 net profits are expected to be around NZ$100 million, with the 2006 December half year having operating revenues of NZ$ 419.2 million. The present CEO of Skycity is Nigel Morrison.
The group came into existence in 1996 when the company was established as the owner of the Skycity Auckland
SKYCITY Auckland
SKYCITY Auckland is a casino and event centre in the Central Business District of Auckland, New Zealand. Located at the base of the Sky Tower, it was the second casino in New Zealand, and still is the only one in Auckland....
complex. In 1998 it took over the operations from the previous gaming operator.
Skycity casinos often depend to a large degree on several hundred high stakes gambler
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
s, often from East Asia
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
, who may gamble hundreds of thousands of dollars in one visit to a casino.
History
Since opening its original AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
casino on 2 February 1996, Skycity has expanded its operations to several New Zealand and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n cities.
In June 2000, it bought the Adelaide Casino (now Skycity Adelaide
SKYCITY Adelaide
Adelaide Casino is a large casino and recreational venue on the north edge of the Adelaide city centre. Located in the heritage-listed Adelaide Railway Station building on North Terrace, Adelaide, the Casino has 90 gaming tables and 950 gaming machines, as well as several bars, function areas and...
). It added another casino to its portfolio when it opened Skycity Queenstown
SKYCITY Queenstown
-External links:*...
in the alpine resort of Queenstown
Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. It is built around an inlet called Queenstown Bay on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin Z-shaped lake formed by glacial processes, and has spectacular views of nearby mountains....
. In July 2004 it bought the Darwin Casino and Hotel from MGM Mirage
MGM Mirage
Not to be confused with the Las Vegas, Nevada based casino/resort operator Resorts International Holdings.MGM Resorts International is a Paradise, Nevada based corporation that brands itself as a global hospitality company. It is the second largest gaming company in the world by revenue - about...
and rebranded it as Skycity Darwin
SKYCITY Darwin
SKYCITY Darwin is a casino located in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. It is the only casino in Darwin.- History :The casino was originally granted a licence in 1979 and opened at its current premises in 1983. Until 2004 it was known as the MGM Grand Darwin. The SKYCITY Entertainment Group...
. Then in June 2004 it acquired a 40.5% holding in the Christchurch Casino
Christchurch Casino
Christchurch Casino is a casino located in Christchurch, New Zealand offering casino games. The casino was New Zealand's first when it opened in 1994. The casino operates five hundred slot machines and thirty-four table games. The property has three restaurants and two bars...
when it bought Aspinal Limited.
Adelaide
Skycity AdelaideSKYCITY Adelaide
Adelaide Casino is a large casino and recreational venue on the north edge of the Adelaide city centre. Located in the heritage-listed Adelaide Railway Station building on North Terrace, Adelaide, the Casino has 90 gaming tables and 950 gaming machines, as well as several bars, function areas and...
, formerly the Adelaide Casino, was bought by Skycity Entertainment Group in June 2000 and officially became the Skycity in April 2001. It has around 70 gaming tables and 950 gaming machines. It has the only table gaming licence issued out by the South Australian Government, giving it a monopoly over the gambling business in the state
Auckland
Skycity AucklandSKYCITY Auckland
SKYCITY Auckland is a casino and event centre in the Central Business District of Auckland, New Zealand. Located at the base of the Sky Tower, it was the second casino in New Zealand, and still is the only one in Auckland....
is New Zealand's largest casino. Located in Central Auckland, it provides table and slot machine
Slot machine
A slot machine , informally fruit machine , the slots , poker machine or "pokies" or simply slot is a casino gambling machine with three or more reels which spin when a button is pushed...
gaming. The facility includes the 328 metre tall Sky Tower
Sky Tower
The Sky Tower is an observation and telecommunications tower located on the corner of Victoria and Federal Streets in the Auckland CBD, Auckland City, New Zealand. It is tall, as measured from ground level to the top of the mast, making it the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern...
, two hotels, convention centre, a 700 seat theatre and 18 restaurants and bars. It opened on 2 February 1996.
Christchurch
SKYCITY purchased a 50% share in Christchurch CasinoChristchurch Casino
Christchurch Casino is a casino located in Christchurch, New Zealand offering casino games. The casino was New Zealand's first when it opened in 1994. The casino operates five hundred slot machines and thirty-four table games. The property has three restaurants and two bars...
in 2011. It has around 500 gaming machines and numerous tables.
Darwin
Skycity DarwinSKYCITY Darwin
SKYCITY Darwin is a casino located in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. It is the only casino in Darwin.- History :The casino was originally granted a licence in 1979 and opened at its current premises in 1983. Until 2004 it was known as the MGM Grand Darwin. The SKYCITY Entertainment Group...
, formerly known as the MGM Grand Darwin, is the only casino in Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
, the capital of the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, Australia. Skycity Entertainment Group bought the casino, which includes a 5 star hotel from MGM Mirage on 23 June 2004, for $140 million US.
Hamilton
Skycity HamiltonSKYCITY Hamilton
-External links:*...
is a casino in Hamilton
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
, New Zealand, that opened in September 2002. It has over 330 gaming machines and 23 tables, a restaurant and a bar, with live music and other performers on Friday and Saturday nights. It is part of the Riverside Centre on the Waikato River
Waikato River
The Waikato River is the longest river in New Zealand. In the North Island, it runs for 425 kilometres from the eastern slopes of Mount Ruapehu, joining the Tongariro River system and emptying into Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake. It drains Taupo at the lake's northeastern edge, creates the...
, which includes bars, restaurants, ten-pin bowling and Mega Zone all operated under the Skycity company.
Queenstown
Skycity QueenstownSKYCITY Queenstown
-External links:*...
opened in December 2000. It has 80 gaming machines and numerous gaming tables.
Auckland
Skycity Hotel, Auckland is a four-star casino hotel and was opened in February 1996. It is one of New Zealands busiest hotels and is located inside the main Auckland complex, which includes the 328 meter Sky Tower, 17 restaurants and bars and the casino. It serves mainly families, businessmen and gamblers who play at the casino. It offers 344 rooms. The many facilities inside the complex make the hotel a very popular leisure destination from travellers all around the world.Skycity Grand Hotel is a luxury five-star hotel and was officially opened by Prime Minister Helen Clark in April 2005 after costing $85 million. It is not located inside the main complex but is adjacent and is connected by an "Air Bridge". It serves mainly older guests, VIPs and high stake gamblers who play at the casino. Many celebrities have stayed at the hotel including Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and Linkin Park. The Grand features 21 floors and 316 rooms of uncompromising quality. The rooms comprise a range of luxury accommodation options including The Grand Suite, 8 Premier Self Contained Suites, 11 Executive King Suites and 296 Luxury rooms. The room interiors were designed by internationally acclaimed Chhada Siembieda (specialists in luxury hotel interiors and responsible for the acclaimed "W" hotel chain as well as the Hayman Island Resort, Sydney Hilton and the Hotel Intercontinental in both Sydney and in Hong Kong). Facilities and services include 24 hour room service and reception, a heated lap pool, fitness center with personal trainers, sauna, health spa, baby sitting and a hotel doctor.
Darwin
Skycity Hotel, Darwin is premium five-star boutique hotel and was opened in July 2004. It was originally known as the "MGM Grand Darwin" until Skycity Entertainment Group bought the hotel and re branded it as Skycity Darwin. It has won numerous awards for it facilities and services, which include a golf course, tennis courts, jogging tracks, bars and restaurants and a casino.The casino was originally granted a licence in 1979 and opened at its current premises in 1983. Until 2004 it was known as the MGM Grand Darwin. The SKYCITY Entertainment Group purchased the hotel in 2004 for $195 million and took ownership on 23 July 2004.