Delta expects “return to normalcy” this fiscal year

Most of the Indian operator’s casino business remains under lockdown but its online gaming unit is growing.

India.- The gaming operator Delta expects to return to normal operating conditions by the end of the current fiscal year.

In a filing to India’s National Stock Exchange, it said: “The management believes that normalcy could be gradually restored during the financial year ending March 31, 2021.”

Delta is the only listed company in India with online casinos as well as land-based venues in the states of Goa and Sikkim. Through the Covid-19 crisis the company has remained confident although revenues were inevitably impacted by lockdown measures.  

Its casinos and hotels had to suspend operations due to measures to fight Covid-19 in the third week of March 2020. Only the hotel at Daman has resumed its operations since June 16.

Delta said it had already implemented a “work from home” policy for many of its employees before the government mandated such measures, and also implemented safety conditions in its hotels and casinos to protect guests and staff.

In the filing Delta added: “We will consider the timing of reopening of our other casinos and hotels depending on the timing of easing of lockdowns and other restrictive measures by the Government.”

It said that while there was an impact on revenues of the casino and hospitality operations, Delta’s “online skill gaming business continues to operate and grow.”

Delta entered the online gaming market with poker site Adda52 through the acquisition of Gauss Networks. The company also holds three of the six offshore gaming licenses issued in Goa, as well as its one land-based casino in Goa and one in Sikkim.

When reporting financial results for the second quarter of 2020, Delta posted a 60 per cent increase in revenue year-on-year for the online business.