The Race Is on for New Casino Resort in Brisbane

Australian casino developers Echo and Crown will have to compete with international companies for the Brisbane spot.

Brisbane is opening up for business. A new casino license will be awarded under Australian gambling laws and Queensland deputy premier Jeff Seeney launched an invitation to all local and foreign gambling companies to make proposals for the nine-hectare land in Brisbane’s central business district.

Australian companies Echo Entertainment and Crown Ltd are both interested in developing new casinos there, but they’re in for some serious competition from international companies.

Seeney declared for the Courier Mail: “Officers from my department did a market sounding and they travelled to Asia, America and New Zealand and spoke to the major operators and there was a significant amount of international interest in what’s happening.”

Winners announced in 2015

Queensland officials are still trying to figure out the best way to create a fair race for all interested parties. According to Seeney, “the first hurdle that any proponent has to get over is to establish that their integrated resort development can compete on the international tourism market, can provide that destination type attraction that is the emerging part of the international tourism market.”

For now, the government is waiting to hear from all interested companies. A list of the best projects that have made the short list will be released in June, with the winning bid being announced in early 2015.

With the locals’ love and appetite for gambling and restrictions applied to online casinos in Australia, the new land-based casino resort is sure to be a big hit.