Brisbane is set to challenge Sydney’s move to become Australia’s casino hub in a battle for high rollers.
The Queensland government is announcing today gaming giants Echo Entertainment and Crown have been short-listed to develop Brisbane’s second casino.
The gaming venue would be part of a resort development at Queen’s Wharf, and would open several years after Sydney becomes Australia’s first city to have two casinos in November 2019.
The development also would only be a short walk from the Treasury casino, which Echo Entertainment owns.
Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney is making an announcement a day after announcing conditional approval for two Chinese-backed groups to build mega casinos in Cairns and the Gold Coast, both of which have casinos.
Queensland is home to four of Australia’s 13 casinos.
Anti-gambling activist Tim Costello says new casinos designed for overseas high rollers would be more likely to prey on local gamblers, if there was a downturn in international tourism.
Echo Entertainment last year indicated the 123-year-old Treasury casino could be turned into boutique hotels and restaurants if Brisbane was granted a second casino licence.
