Cambodia: NagaWorld remains closed due to new Covid-19 restrictions

Cambodia’s capital city has imposed a new lockdown until June 16 to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cambodia.- Phnom Penh has announced a new lockdown after a surge in Covid-19 cases. Restrictions will continue until June 16.

Authorities have ordered the temporary closure of public venues such as cinemas, clubs, resorts, museums and theme parks, among other places. Gatherings of 15 people or more have been banned.

NagaWorld will remain closed and it is still unknown whether it will be able to open on June 16. The casino venue suspended operations in March after 11 staff members tested positive for Covid-19.

NagaCorp said: “The company is acting responsibly and swiftly to volunteer to temporarily suspend its business for a more thorough review of its precautionary and preventive measures already undertaken.”

NagaWorld showed some sign of recovery during the first three months of the year with a 99.4 per cent increase in average daily mass table game buy-ins compared to the first quarter of 2020.

the operator, NagaCorp, reported that average daily volume from electronic gaming machines (EGMs) reached US$5.44m, which represents a 98.5 per cent increase compared to the same period in the previous year.

NagaCorp has been criticised for starting to lay off staff despite having reported a net profit of US$102.3m and a gross profit of US$427m in 2020.

Close to 600 employees will lose their positions, a move that has been highly criticised by unions but is not expected. In May, NagaCorp announced a plan to cut more than 1,300 jobs.

According to the company, the layoffs are necessary due to the ongoing closure of its casino, but, according to local media, workers claims the layoffs are designed to reduce union presence in the workplace.