James Packer is the Australian casino mogul that heads the brand Melco Crown. Over the past few years, Packer and his local casinos have seen a great deal of success, drawing in high rollers from around the world. Now, he is ready to explore other markets, making plans to open a new casino in Macau.
According to recent reports, this will not be a casual endeavour, as estimates show the casino project will cost upwards of $2.8 million. Originally, the new casino was estimated at costing just $1.9 billion. However, there have been a number of changes to the original plan, and the operators have refined the design and added a number of new potential features to the gambling venue.
As such, an addition billion dollars has been added to the budget to accommodate all of the new ideas that have been made for the casino. The new casino will have a vast gaming capacity, supporting 500 tables and 1500 pokies. There will also be a 5000-seat entertainment studio and TV production facilities.
These two features will certainly set Packer’s new casino apart from the rest of the gambling venues in Macau, certainly helping to bring in even more revenue for Mr. Packer. While the construction gets underway, Melco Crown continues to negotiate with Studio City. The company already has a 60% stake in the project and a few kinks need to be worked out before the casino is finished and open to the public.
This is one of many casino expansion projects that Australian gambling operators have under taken recently. While SkyCity has explored plans for opening new casinos across the country, Echo Entertainment is working on ways to expand its existing casinos to attract high roller players. The Australian gambling market is due for a significant change, and casino providers are working hard to transform the industry.