Offshore casinos poaching Christchurch staff

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Christchurch Casino says overseas casinos are trying to recruit their staff.

Around 500 staff at the casino have been offered redundancy or leave without pay until the venture reopens.

Christchurch Casino CEO Brett Anderson said while about 70 per cent of them have indicated they will return to the casino, others are heading offshore.

"I'm getting phone calls from Australia looking for our people and likewise all over New Zealand, and a few of them have spread their wings,", he told Newstalk ZB's Dave Dunlay.

"More than a few have gone over to the Gold Coast - it's a lot warmer, it's a lot more stable, you can swim in the sea, the pay rates are better."

Anderson couldn't specify a reopening date for the Christchurch Casino.

- NEWSTALK ZB