Competition over gambling licenses in Brisbane is really heating up. As Echo Entertainment enlists in top hotel brands to bolster its proposal, Crown Casinos owner James Packer has started revealing his big plans for the venue. A report in the Courier Mail quotes Packer as stating that his plans for his Brisbane casino proposal are even grander than his high-roller casino that will be built in Sydney.
His Brisbane project is valued at $3 billion, and it will ‘outshine’ Crown Sydney by becoming the first building block in the establishment of a global brand. This news comes shortly after rival casino operator Echo Entertainment announced its own plans to work with the Ritz Carlton on the its Brisbane casino resort project.
It would be the second Australian casino for the luxury hotel operator, and the company’s involvement in the project certainly boosts its profile. Ritz Carlton is a world-renowned brand, and it would certainly attract the type of wealth visitors that Brisbane needs to boost its tourism market. Industry analysts are already rooting for Echo Entertainment to earn the casino license, beating out Crown Casinos.
However, it seems that James Packer is still working hard to secure the license for his own brand. Both Crown Casinos and Echo Entertainment will submit their final proposals by the end of the month. As of yet, no specific details or artwork have been released. A final decision on who will receive the coveted license will be made early in 2015.
The competition for this casino license is fierce, and both companies are pulling out all the stops in order to secure it.
We are eager to see who will prevail when the Brisbane government weighs in next year.
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