Dark cloud over casino’s future

ABOUT 400 families rely on the Reef Hotel Casino to pay the rent or mortgage, put food on the table and many send children to school.

That’s quite a lot isn’t it?

But there has been no word from authorities when one of the largest CBD employers can reopen.

The 400 staff, ranging from kitchen staff to security guards, have been stood down for nearly three months and there’s no sign when they can welcome guests again.

The casino and adjacent hotel are eerily empty with a skeleton crew keeping an eye on things and the airconditioning running to stop the interior from getting mouldy.

Some would argue that it’s a gaming establishment designed to make money from people trying their luck.

Yes, it is, but it also provides a place of entertainment and comfort for many residents and visitors.

More importantly it provides millions of dollars a year in salaries and wages for its staff and to buy goods and services in the city.

Casino boss Allan Tan has pulled no punches that with no income and ongoing costs the day could come when the business might not be financially feasible at all.

He has asked the government for three wishes so it can be viable and start re-employing staff.

One is a COVID safety plan that balances the need to be safe but also be financially realistic.

Secondly, flights returning to Cairns urgently.

Thirdly, the state’s borders to reopen.

The biggest entertainment venues are finding it extremely difficult to get started again, the ones that pay the most in taxes and other state and federal fees, yet seem to be low on the State Government’s priority list.

Nick Dalton Deputy editor