As Australians, we know that the country has one of the most exciting and interesting gambling markets in the world – and now, industry professionals from other countries are recognizing our potential. According to the Bangkok Post, Australia is a new ‘casino hotspot’ where more and more Asian businesses are hoping to open up lucrative gambling venues.
The report notes that Australia’s mining boom is starting to slow down, and local politicians are looking for ways to offset the loss. New casinos could create thousands of new jobs and bring in billions of tourism and gambling dollars to help boost the economy.
"For governments, rightly or wrongly, these integrated resorts are an attractive proposition because they create employment opportunities and tax dollars, which they can then put back into the community,” says David Wiadrowski of PriceWaterhouseCoopers. As such, Queensland and New South Wales are both in the process of issuing licenses for new casinos.
Currently, four venues are in the planning process with one of the largest projects launched by Asian businessman Tony Fung. Fung’s new Aquis Casino Resort is a huge undertaking that will cost $8.15 billion to build. It will include 8 hotels, an exhibition centre, a golf course, several casinos and a world-class aquarium. Needless to say, it is the biggest investment that Australia’s tourism market has ever seen.
When it is open to the public in 2018, the venue will employ 20 000 Australians and boost the state’s ecnomy by $1.4 billion annually. On the other side of the coin, Australian casino developers are also eager to open up shop in Asia. James Packer and his Crown Casinos brand have opened up venues in Macau and the Philippines.
He currently has his eye on Japanese lawmakers as they debate whether or not regulate and legalise casino gambling.
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