• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Thursday 18 September 2025
  • zh-hant 中文
  • ja 日本語
  • en English
IAG
Advertisement
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
IAG
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

Echo, Crown, Chow Tai Fook Make Brisbane Short List

Newsdesk by Newsdesk
Wed 28 May 2014 at 02:24
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

The government of Queensland has named Brisbane incumbent Echo Entertainment, rival Crown Resorts and two Chinese companies to its short list for a casino license in the capital of the Australian state.

Jewelry giant Chow Tai Fook and Shanghai-based property consortium Greenland Investment complete the list, which was announced on the heels of the state’s tentative approval of two other Chinese investment groups—Aquis at the Great Barrier Reef and ASF Consortium—for megaresorts totaling more than A$15 billion and located, respectively, on the state’s far northern coast near Cairns and in the popular tourist destination of Gold Coast on the Pacific Ocean, where Sydney-based Echo has long been the sole operator. Echo also runs the only casino in Brisbane.

Queensland will award three licenses in all as part of the largest expansion of casino gaming in Australian history. Reeling from falling resource exports and deeply in debt, the state is banking on the Asian tourism boom to revive its fortunes, led by China’s increasingly wealthy and gambling-obsessed millions.

“These projects have the potential to create thousands of new jobs in these two key tourism centers,” said Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney. “We promised to grow the construction and tourism sectors of the Queensland economy and today’s announcement paves the way for this to happen.”

Plans for the $8.15 billion Aquis, the brainchild of Hong Kong financier Tony Fung, include nine hotels, a 25,000-seat stadium, a golf course and a lake and reef lagoon. If it clears environmental and other approvals it will provide 3,700 construction jobs and 10,000 permanent jobs at opening, according to Aquis.

ASF’s Broadwater Marine project is pegged at $7.5 billion and likewise envisions an expansive mixed-use offering comprising hotels and luxury residences with the addition of a marina and a full-scale cruise ship terminal. The project forecasts 1,300 construction jobs and employment for more than 10,000 resort workers.

Sydney-based, ASX-listed ASF Group (AFA) has holdings in minerals, commodities, trading, financial services and real estate in Australia and China. Its backers in Gold Coast include China State Construction Engineering Corp. and CCCC Guangzhou Dredging Co.

The project must also obtain planning and environmental approvals to move forward.

The Brisbane finalists have been asked to detail how they will transform an area known as Queen’s Wharf in the city’s central government and business district.

Echo, which operates The Star casino and hotel in Sydney, previously had offered to spend upwards of $1 billion to preserve its Brisbane monopoly in the face of an aggressive lobbying campaign by James Packer’s Crown. Echo wants permission to develop a new resort to replace its Treasury Casino and Hotel, which is housed in an aging building that is historically listed and cannot be expanded.

The company’s Jupiters Hotel and Casino in Gold Coast is similarly in need of reinvestment and expansion.

Crown is also challenging Echo’s casino monopoly in New South Wales with a multibillion-dollar luxury resort slated to open in 2019 not far from The Star on Sydney’s Darling Harbour.

Crown’s Melbourne flagship is the country’s leading destination for high-rolling gamblers and benefits from the company’s 33% stake in Macau operator Melco Crown Entertainment. Crown also operates a casino in Perth in Western Australia and is pursuing a resort casino in Sri Lanka’s capital of Colombo.

RelatedPosts

Ciarán Carruthers: Crowning glory

Crown Resorts rolls out AI to improve player protection abilities

Fri 5 Sep 2025 at 05:37
Crown Resorts found suitable to retain Melbourne casino license but China investigation ongoing

Crown Melbourne given two-year extension to deadline for implementation of mandatory carded play across table games

Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 06:47
Star to open AU$3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf Brisbane development on 29 August

Star’s Hong Kong partners said to be eying Crown Resorts to run casino at Queen’s Wharf Brisbane if takeover talks succeed

Fri 18 Jul 2025 at 11:11
Crown saga claims new scalp as Western Australia’s Chief Casino Officer steps down over conflict of interest claims

Crown Perth deemed suitable to maintain casino license after three-year remediation

Tue 8 Jul 2025 at 12:40
Load More
Tags: BrisbaneCrown ResortsEcho EntertainmentGold CoastQueensland
ShareShare
Newsdesk

Newsdesk

Current Issue

Editorial – Flipping the script

Editorial – Flipping the script

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 12:30

This month represents an important milestone for Inside Asian Gaming as we launch IAG EXPO – an expansion of the...

Asia market roundup

Asia market roundup

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 12:26

Inside Asian Gaming takes a deep dive into the state of Asia-Pacific’s key gaming markets: who’s hot, who’s not and...

Rewriting the rules

Rewriting the rules

by Newsdesk
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 11:43

IAG EXPO, taking place at Newport World Resorts from 8 to 10 September, is not your usual trade show. IAG...

Test of character

Test of character

by Newsdesk
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 11:28

Since its establishment in 1989, Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) has developed into the world’s most trusted name when it comes...

Evolution Asia
Evolution Asia
Aristocrat
GLI
Nustar
SABA
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
NWR
NWR

Related Posts

DigiPlus links with Philippine First Insurance to provide surety bond protection program for its online gaming players

DigiPlus links with Philippine First Insurance to provide surety bond protection program for its online gaming players

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 18 Sep 2025 at 17:03

Leading Philippines eGames provider DigiPlus Interactive Corp has inked a deal with domestic insurance company Philippine First Insurance Co. Inc  to introduce what it describes as the Philippines’ first-ever surety bond program for online gaming players. Taking effect immediately, the...

10 Years Ago – Reimagining Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan cabinet approves budget proposal to increase betting levy, double casino entry for locals

by Newsdesk
Thu 18 Sep 2025 at 02:27

The Sri Lankan cabinet has approved a proposal in the country’s 2025 budget that will see the betting levy increased and casino entry fee for locals doubled. According to a report by local business media outlet Economy Next, Cabinet Spokesman...

CDC Gaming announces reimagined Day Zero Party including “10 Women Rising in Gaming” presentation at Resorts World Las Vegas’ Allē Lounge on 66, on 5 October 2025, the Sunday prior to G2E

CDC Gaming announces reimagined Day Zero Party including “10 Women Rising in Gaming” presentation at Resorts World Las Vegas’ Allē Lounge on 66, on 5 October 2025, the Sunday prior to G2E

by Newsdesk
Thu 18 Sep 2025 at 02:08

CDC Gaming, the premier source of news, commentary and analysis for the gaming industry in the Americas and sister company to Inside Asian Gaming, has announced a revamped, reimagined and refreshed Day Zero Party ahead of this year’s Global Gaming...

Wynn says UAE development contribution to total around US$900 million as Thailand opportunity looms large

Cryptocurrency payments, smart table rollout across all games among technology innovations being planned at Wynn Al Marjan Island

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 18 Sep 2025 at 02:01

Wynn Al Marjan Island is looking to open with smart gaming tables installed across all or most of its gaming areas and payment options that include cryptocurrencies, the company has revealed. David Patent, Executive Vice President, Gaming Operations at Wynn’s...

Your browser does not support the video tag.


IAG

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • English