Crown Casino stripped of social distancing exemption

Saturday 21st March 2020

Crown Casino has been stripped of its exemption from social-distancing rules aimed at arresting the advance of coronavirus, in a decision that could force the closure of part of its flagship casino in Melbourne.

The Victorian government had provided Crown's Southbank casino complex with a controversial exemption from the rules limiting gatherings to 100 people. The James Packer-backed company offered its own suite of policies such as deactivating every second poker machine and limiting attendance numbers at restaurants, bars, ballrooms and conference facilities.

But Premier Daniel Andrews on Saturday said the chief health officer had revoked the exemption.

"We're not confident the measures that were in place and were appropriate are appropriate now," Mr Andrews said.