Legislation

Australia – Queensland could offer three resort style licences

By Phil - 14 October 2013

The Australian state of Queensland is looking to get involved in the casino revolution sweeping Australia as it too looks to pitch towards high-roller Asian customers to help drive the economy.

The State could be about to issue three new casino licences similar to the sprawling Integrated Resorts seen in Singapore as the government looks to boost tourism and create jobs.

Premier Campbell Newman confirmed that one of the three licences would be awarded to an operator looking to redevelop a riverfront site in central Brisbane that already includes a casino operated by Echo Entertainment. It would allow two more licenses elsewhere in the state.

Premier Newman said: “Queensland can sustain up to three new integrated resort casinos. The casino is only part of these major developments, which are tourism draw cards in their own right. There are lots more people wanting to build casino then there are going to be licences. There’s a heck of a lot more that we need to do. As I’ve often said, the tourism product, the infrastructure that we have in this state is from a different era; in some cases it’s faded and jaded. Our offering has been rundown and eroded. We’re not just looking for a hotel and some shops. It’s a world class iconic precinct. It’s time now to actually take off the shackles, think big and actually allow this state really to compete in the international marketplace. It’s about jobs, it’s about the investment dollars and it’s about tourism potential for Queensland. It’s about people coming here because we have something that will be a draw card.”

Mr Newman explained that the new casinos would include six star hotels, retail, restaurant and entertainment zones, theatres and convention facilities and new open spaces.

Queensland has recently seen a spate of hopefuls present optimistic applications to whet the government’s appetite. The city council is already examining four proposals to develop a cruise ship terminal and possible casino resort on Broadwater Island, an artificial break water on the Gold Coast.  Proposals have been submitted by SkyCity, Brookfield Asset management, Zhuhai Ridong and China State Construction Engineering Corp. The Southport Spit is already home to Sea World, Sea World Resort, the Sheraton Mirage Resort and Palazzo Versace. Advocates of the casino project say that as a fundamental part of a larger development called the Broadwater Marine Project, it provides an opportunity to cement The Gold Coat’s tourist appeal as it looks to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Elsewhere in cairns, home to the Great barrier Reef Hong Kong  businessman Tony Fung wants to build a A$4.2bn resort including nine luxury hotels and 1,200 apartments. Aquis Resort, would target Chinese tourists and has pitched itself as being bigger than James Packer’s Crown casino in Melbourne with 750 tables and 1,500 slots. It would also offer one of the world’s largest aquariums, a 25,000-seat sports stadium, high-end retail shopping, theatres, a 13-hectare reef lagoon, 18-hole golf course, a convention and exhibition space.

No new casino licenses have been approved in Australia since 1996.

If all three new licences are awarded it will bring the state’s casino total to seven. However the new projects will have to form part of an integrated resort-style development.

Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney added: “Integrated developments, including casinos, have proven their ability to increase visitor numbers and stays elsewhere in the world. They are not just casinos as we have previously seen in Queensland, in fact, the  casino is the only part of these major developments which are tourism draw cards in their own right.”

However the proposal won’t be without objection. Salvation Army problem gambling spokesman Gerrard Byrne said: “There’s really quite a proliferation of casinos and it’s not just about the venues, it’s about the concentration of poker machines, which are used by vulnerable members of the community. There are other, better ways of attracting tourists and getting them to spend their dollars. Queensland is great state with many different natural and manmade attracts, there are better ways to make money.”