Jupiters Casino is the only casino on the Gold Coast and, as such, it should be a major tourist attraction. Unfortunately, the gambling venue fails to bring in tourism and Mayor Tom Tate is not impressed with its recent performance. This week, Tate addressed the Property Council of Australia with a speech that argued his point of renovating Jupiters Casino.
He feels that the gambling venue is a three-star casino that has done an inadequate job of attracting tourists from across the country and around the world. "People fly straight into Sydney's Star Casino,” Tate said. “Then, they go down to Crown in Melbourne, instead of coming to the Gold Coast." It is true that there are bigger and better gambling destinations across Australia.
As such, Tate believes that renovating the casino would attract more business but Echo Entertainment seems more interested in its other properties. Currently, Echo Entertainment is attempting to maintain its exclusivity in Sydney by promising to spend $1 billion on turning The Star Casino into a resort property.
The company seems to be focused exclusively on that business prospect the moment, and may not be interested in expanding its Gold Coast property. Tate approached Echo Entertainment about the issue last year, but the company has yet to make good on its promise. Even managers at Jupiters Casino are anxious to have the property refurbished, as the casino is in danger of losing money.
Many tourists who are interested in gambling will gloss over the Gold Coast and head straight for Sydney or Melbourne, so it is important that Jupiters ups the ante in order to compete. If not, the Gold Coast could lose its biggest employer. "I have told John Redmond, 'if you don't spend that money, you will be left behind'," Tate said in his speech.
Only time will tell if Echo Entertainment follows through with its plans to renovate Jupiters Casino. If not, the casino could become outdated and obsolete in Australia’s ever-expanding gambling market.
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