Adelaide casino earnings flat, owner SkyCity blames decreased visits, lower spending Artist's impression of proposed $250 million SkyCity Adelaide Casino redevelopment, which may be now delayed. ADELAIDE casino operator SkyCity says the state's economic environment continues to be challenging with decreased visits and average spending impacting the business. The company reported flat revenues flat revenues of A$82.5 million for its Adelaide operations in the first six months of the financial year to Dec 31 with earnings before interest and tax coming in at A$20.1 million. The NZ-based company posted an overall 16 per cent fall in first-half profit due to softer international business and Rugby World Cup benefits that weren't repeated. Net profit after tax fell to $66.3 million, or 11.5 cents a share, in the six months ended December 31, from NZ$78.8 million, or 13.7 cents a share, a year earlier, the Auckland-based company said in a statement. Revenue, including gaming GST, fell 1.4 per cent to NZ$487.3 million. It said there are "indications of growth returning in New Zealand" while the performance of Adelaide would be "broadly flat" through the remainder of the year and Darwin should show growth as it benefits from investment. The company said normalised full-year profit is expected to be about NZ$140 million. The company lifted its interim dividend to 10 cents a share from 9 cents a year earlier, saying it reflected its new dividend policy of making an annual payment of not less than 20 cents. SkyCity has announced plans to spend $350 million to upgrade the existing casino. It will develop further plans for the centre, which will include a six-star boutique hotel and an extra 500 poker machines, new restaurants and retail concepts, in the second half of the financial year.