New Zealand Leads Casino Reopenings, Macau and Las Vegas Face Challenges

New Zealand's SkyCity casino in Auckland has reopened without Covid-19 restrictions, marking a significant milestone in the global casino industry's recovery from the pandemic. The casino celebrated its reopening with a midnight rainbow light show from the Sky Tower, the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere.

Meanwhile, Macau has experienced a 90% year-on-year drop in casino revenues for the past six months, largely due to visa and travel restrictions from China, its main source of gamblers. Despite casinos being open, the financial impact has been severe, with billions being withdrawn from the region.

In other news, Anatolii Zyrin won the EPT National title in Sochi, Russia, with a prize of $85,695. This victory adds to his impressive poker resume, which includes a WSOP gold bracelet and a significant cash win from a previous event.

In the United States, Nevada has reopened more than two-thirds of its casinos, while Los Angeles has only recently allowed cardrooms to reopen with strict restrictions. Outdoor poker only is permitted, with face masks, plexiglass dividers, and four-player per table caps in place due to LA’s high coronavirus case count.