SkyCity profit up 12.6 percent

Australasian casino operator SkyCity has delivered a net, after-tax profit of $138.5 million - up 12.6 percent on last year.

Revenue from its flagship Auckland casino is up over 14 percent to $66 million.

Chief Executive Nigel Morrison attributes almost $11 million of that to the Rugby World Cup.

That deal would see SkyCity build the centre, in exchange for changes to gambling laws.

Talks are stalled while the Auditor-General reviews the process undertaken by the Ministry of Economic Development.

Mr Morrison says a convention centre is key to capturing that high end market.

He says Government partnerships aren't unusual.

"We're trying to do a similar thing in Adelaide. We've done a similar thing in the northern territory. That sort of thing has been negotiated in Queensland, in New South Wales, in Sydney, in Melbourne and it's been negotiated in Tasmania."

SkyCity says it's disappointing talks with the Government over the Auckland convention centre have stalled.

Photo: NZ Herald