SkyCity has been given the go-ahead to buy Queenstown’s Wharf Casino in New Zealand, meaning the operator will own both casinos in the resort town.
The Commerce Commission said it was satisfied that the acquisition would not substantially lessen competition in the national or Queenstown gambling markets.
“This was an unusual application because gambling is strictly regulated in New Zealand,” commission chairman Mark Berry said. “The removal of competition between the two Queenstown casinos would not materially impact on competition, given this high level of regulation and the other constraints SkyCity would continue to face.”
“We are pleased that the purchase of the Wharf Casino is now unconditional, which means we now have two casino licences in the Queenstown region, which is New Zealand's leading tourism destination,” SkyCity chief executive Nigel Morrison said. The casino will be renamed the SkyCity Wharf Casino.
