Crown Resorts has temporarily closed one of the two VIP gaming floors at Crown Sydney and will commence a voluntary redundancy program to slash up to 95 staff due to what it calls “macroeconomic challenges”.
According to a report from The Sydney Morning Herald, the Mahogany Room will be closed with all customers to use the Crystal level for the time being as the company waits for business levels to stabilize.
“Crown has made a decision to consolidate its two VIP casino floors in Sydney in response to the current macroeconomic challenges facing our industry alongside other Australian businesses,” a spokesperson for Crown Resorts owner The Blackstone Group is reported as saying.
“Unfortunately, this decision will impact some of our team members, and we are working with them and their union to consult on their options in the hopes of placing as many people as possible in other roles. Our priority is to support our people through this process, and manage these changes with care and respect.”
The SMH said impacted staff will be offered the opportunity to relocate to Crown Melbourne or Crown Perth, or to take up other positions in Sydney.
However, it has been suggested that Crown Sydney could still open the Mahogany Room during peak periods such as Chinese New Year.
“They can always reopen it when the North Asian tourists begin returning to Australia, which looks to be soon judging by the international arrivals,” a fund manager told The SMH.
Originally planned as a VIP-only casino, Crown has had to reimagine its Sydney casino offering after the Bergin inquiry into its relationship with Asian junket operators ultimately saw the company deemed unsuitable to hold a NSW casino license.
Crown was eventually able to open the casino at Crown Sydney in August 2022 – some 20 months after launching non-gaming facilities – via a provisional license although it initially opened the Crystal Room only. Crystal and Mahogany combined offer 160 gaming tables and 70 electronic gaming tables, while there are an additional 12 exclusive private Sky Salons located on levels 28 and 29.
