CASINO NEWS: TOURISM MINISTER AIMS TO LURE CASINO DEVELOPERS TO QLD & NEW CROWN BOARD MEMBER
Queensland Tourism Minister Kate Jones will lead a team of government officials tasked with luring the world’s biggest casino developers to the state.
Officials are set to fly off this week to Las Vegas and Macau to meet with the likes of MGM Grand and Caesar’s Entertainment.
On the table are two casino licences – one in Cairns and one on the Gold Coast.
“Our strategy is all based around attracting more visitors who stay longer and spend more in Queensland to create jobs for locals,” Ms Jones said.
The ultimate goal of the team is to attract investment in Queensland’s envisioned pair of integrated casino resorts featuring accommodation options, restaurants, gaming and entertainment venues and retail.
“I have been approached by some of the world’s most successful entertainment companies keen to invest in Queensland. But we’re working to make sure we get the balance right for Queenslanders,” Ms Jones told the Nine Network.
POYNTON NAMED AS NEW CROWN DIRECTOR
John Poynton has been named as the new non-executive director of Crown Resorts filling the vacancy left by James Packer’s resignation in March.
Poynton, who is currently serving as director of Burswood Limited, Crown’s Perth subsidiary, was nominated by Consolidated Press Holdings to assume the role.
Currently, Poynton is chairman at Australian based, independent oil and gas exploration company, Strike Energy Ltd; Jindalee Partners, a Perth-based merchant banking and corporate advisory firm, which Poynton co-founded; and SC8, an Australian-based cyber security and threat intelligence solutions company. Poynton also serves as a director for ECU’s Security Research Institute Advisory Board and a Board Member of the Future Fund Board of Guardians.
John Alexander, executive chairman for Crown said “John is an experienced director having previously served as chairman, deputy chairman, non-executive director of a number of ASX-listed companies, federal government boards and education institutions. He will make an excellent addition to the board.”
