CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT EYES OFF GOLD COAST
Caesars Entertainment, one of the world’s biggest casino resort operators, is eyeing off the Gold Coast for its first Australian venture.
Caesars Hong Kong-based president of international development Steven Tight visited the Gold Coast on a scouting trip in June, meeting Gold Coast Tourism chairman Paul Donovan.
Speaking to the Gold Coast Bulletin Mr Tight said, “We are currently doing our internal feasibility study on whether another large-scale integrated resort could be supported in the Gold Coast market.”
Mr Tight said he hoped to have a better idea of the city’s potential for a Caesars property later next month once more of the study was done. “It would be Caesars’ first property in Australia,” he added.
“All I can say at this point is Caesars Entertainment continues to evaluate opportunities throughout the region to expand our network of world-class properties.”
Caesars Entertainment has more than 50 casino sites across 13 US states and six countries. They operate under the Caesars, Harrah’s and Horseshoe brands.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has already gone on record stating that she did not want to see the Gold Coast turned into a casino city and whilst she was happy to see global brands like Caesar’s show interest in the Gold Coast, she said her government wasn’t looking at issuing a third casino license.
With Star Entertainment already entrenched at Broadbeach, a second casino license is currently going through due process with the Chinese-backed ASF Consortium.
ASF Consortium director Louis Chien claims Caesars Entertainment has already entered into talks with them as a possible partnership regarding their proposed $3 billion integrated resort development on the Gold Coast’s Spit.
ASF is expected to submit detailed plans in July to the state government and should that deadline be met, there will be more clarity as to who ASF has finally ended up partnering with.
Sources: agb.com / gold coast bulletin / tightpoker.com