Aaron Morrison, General Manager of SkyCity’s Adelaide Casino, announced his resignation through the Australian Stock Exchange. He spoke of the need to return to Melbourne for family reasons, but will remain at his current high-level role until the end of the year, December 31.

SkyCity Chief Executive Nigel Morrison conveyed his and the board of directors’ best wishes for his family’s future success and happiness. He applauded the outstanding job Aaron Morrison did during the six years as GM, and thanked him for all he did for the company.

The New Zealand corporation SkyCity Entertainment Group owns and manages casinos throughout Australasia. The Adelaide Casino was purchased in 2000, has the only table gaming license issued by the South Australian Government, and successfully negotiated an exclusive license to retain a monopoly on the table gaming license until 2035. The casino does however compete in the gaming machine market where there are almost 500 club and hotel licenses allowing for over 12,000 slots.

The casino with 90 gaming tables and almost 1,000 slot machines is located in the heritage-listed Adelaide railway station building, and is the 10th largest employer in the entire region. The exclusive license arrangements are subject to redevelopment plans, which has stalled this year. SkyCity has delivered only $50 million of a promised $600 million renovation while reporting disappointing results economically, with stalled earning against rising expenses.

Morrison’s resignation has sparked government legislators and regulators involved in the negotiations to call for a formal expansion update so as to facilitate finalizing the project’s Riverbank Precinct revitalization plans.

Currently the redevelopment plans include rebuilding a car park adjacent to the Festival Centre Plaza and constructing and office skyscraper between the casino and the Parliament House.