The Star Casino has copped a $5,000 fine for allegedly breaching social distancing restrictions put in place to help curb the coronavirus pandemic, according to Liquor & Gaming NSW.
“There is a risk of COVID transmission if people are mingling while under the effect of alcohol,” Liquor & Gaming acting director of compliance Dimitri Argeres said in a press statement.
“The fine follows a third inspection on the weekend where we witnessed further breaches of the COVID-19 Safety Plan.
“We want to send a strong message that businesses must manage these risks to ensure individual patrons and the community are protected.”
In case you missed it, a man who visited the casino on Saturday, 4th July has recently tested positive for coronavirus, among fears of a second wave in NSW following the Crossroads Hotel cluster in Casula.
The venue controversially hasn’t closed for a deep clean, as reps for the venue say it is deep cleaned every day.
For some sense of comparison, a group of people in Melbourne were fined $26,000 for having a gathering of 16 people following the announcement that the city would be going back into lockdown.
Naturally, people on the Internet have begun to roast the casino and the Berejiklian government for the relatively minuscule fine – pocket change, if you will.
here's a little chart which gives some context to the $5,000 fine given to Star City casino https://t.co/bruPcE0AxX pic.twitter.com/aLRDvAPc1S
— Nick Evershed (@NickEvershed) July 14, 2020
A bunch of folk eating KFC were fined more than 4x what Star Casino was for covid breaches.
— jansant (@Jansant) July 13, 2020
https://twitter.com/maximum_sincere/status/1282528023883857920?s=20
I'm at Star casino right now licking all the blackjack tables, it's fine what are you all scared of. Gambling is far more important pic.twitter.com/xGUwMRqxcW
— Tom Studans (@maximumwelfare) July 13, 2020
If I was the Star Casino I’d open up again next week and go double or nothing https://t.co/8XpgJKexQ4
— Dan Hall (@danieljohnhall) July 13, 2020
