Earlier this week, philanthropist David Walsh announced his plans to build a casino at the Museum for Old and New Art. Even he admitted that it was unlikely that the plan would ever come to fruition, but it seems that it has attracted some positive attention from industry experts and politicians. Walsh’s plan includes building a new casino at MONA, which will only feature high-roller table games.
He stated that there would be no more than a dozen games, and pokies would not be permitted. The only patrons that would be allowed to gamble at the casino are tourists. It would only appeal to high rollers, there is little of patrons spending more than they can afford at the tables. Andrew Wilkie, who has campaigned against poker machines, has expressed his support for the plan.
According to The Mercury, he has stated that he will support the new venue if a social impact study turns up clean. The anti-pokie campaigner likes the idea of a pokie-free, tourist-only, high-roller venue, as it presents little chance of increasing local problem gambling rates while providing an increase in tourism dollars.
“I do trust David,” Wilkie says. “I don’t see it as any mischievous scheme to get some pokies barn into the northern suburbs”. Professionals in the local tourism industry also backed the plan. It would certainly bring more of a certain calibre of tourist into the city, and would definitely improve the economy. However, there are some complex issues that must be addressed before the plan is approved.
Currently, Wrest Point Casino has an exclusive license to operate its casino, and the government would have to renegotiate the venue’s terms in order to make room for the MONA casino. While the idea was not taken very seriously at first, we are seeing local industry professionals showing the support. If this continues, the state government may have to take up Walsh’s plan.
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