Holland Casino venues to remain closed until at least 9 February

The operator’s properties faced their third period of closure beginning on 16 December last year, in response to the rising number of cases of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

That period of lockdown was intended to last until 19 January, until it was extended earlier this week.

The first wave of Covid-19 early in 2020 saw the casinos close their doors in March, as part of a shutdown that was originally expected to last until September. However, negotiations between the government and the operator subsequently saw the date for reopening brought forward to 1 July.

After reopening in July, the venues were subject to a midnight curfew from September as cases of the virus began rising again.

Then in November, as cases continued to rise, the casinos faced their second national shutdown, originally intended to last for two weeks.

The venues reopened on 19 November, although restaurants, bars and catering establishments throughout the nation remained closed.

The period of opening lasted under a month, as the casinos were closed again by 16 December under the current lockdown, and will now remain closed until at least 9 February.

Results published in August showed that the operator’s revenue for the first half of 2020 had fallen 58.7% year-on-year, despite strong performance prior to the first period of closure.

Net loss after corporate income tax (VPB) for the period amounted to €28.3m, compared to a €32.5m profit in 2019.