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Looking for a Casinos in Queensland from NT$1,753? Choose from over 632 Casinos in Queensland with great savings. Feb 24, 2021 After this facility, the country started seeing new and new gambling houses opening all over the states. Legal casinos brought considerable taxes, and the economical development was partially boosted by this. In 1990s, best Aussie online casinos started to appear, and for many years, this niche remained completely uncontrolled and unregulated.
One of Australia’s biggest territories is looking to expand its land-based gambling operations. Reports are coming out that a new casino in Queensland is now being considered by lawmakers. It’s an exciting time for both local gamblers in the area, and major gaming companies looking to get into Australia’s lucrative market.
For now, these plans are completely hypothetical. Officials in Queensland are asking for opinions on the matter. Now is the perfect time to look back at Queensland’s history of gambling laws, and the likelihood of a new casino opening up here.
History of Gambling Inside Queensland
For many years, Australia did not take any steps to regulate its gambling industry. There were numerous establishments spread around the country, yet these operated under the table without any oversight from the government. That all changed in 1973.
That year, Australia legalized its first casino, located in Tasmania. Gambling legislation continued to expand over the next several decades. Land-based poker and sports betting became legal here, as well. Every territory in Australia now offers at least some form of gambling.
In 2001, lawmakers in Australia passed the Interactive Gaming Act to regulate the online gambling industry. Under these new laws, Australia began allowing foreign gambling companies, including many of the top online gambling sites in Europe, to operate inside the country after obtaining a license from the government. This market exploded, with millions of people around the country making internet bets on a monthly basis.
Today, there are numerous casinos and sports betting companies across the country. Queensland currently has three casinos. Lawmakers here are considering adding a new casino in Queensland, more specifically on the Gold Coast. It could be huge for one of Australia’s most popular areas.
What Do These New Plans Include?
Kate Jones, Tourism Manager of Queensland, confirmed in a recent interview that state officials are gathering proposals from casino operators on construction plans for a casino. Jones has stated that any proposals need to include plans for entertainment facilities, a concert venue, dining and retail centers.
Potential operators must be willing to invest at least $1 billion AUD into the new casino in Queensland. The number of proposals actually being considered is unclear. It seems likely that many of the top gaming companies in the world are going to want to enter this market.
The exact location for the new casino in Queensland is up in the air. The local government here has already ruled out a number of areas within the Gold Coast including the Southport Spit and the Wave Break Island. Fortunately, a number of other areas within the Gold Coast are available.
Pros and Cons of a New Casino in Queensland
While many in the gambling industry are excited over the prospect of a new casino being built, some anti-gaming groups are already voicing their disapproval. It’s well known that Australia has one of the largest population of problem gamblers in the world, and some are concerned that adding more wagering options in the Gold Coast will make things worse.
The development of a casino in the Gold Coast would be part of what the government is calling the GTH (Global Tourism Hub). According to analysts, a new casino in Queensland will bring in an additional one million tourists every year. It will also create an additional 6,000 jobs for locals here.
Lawmakers in Queensland are taking the opinion of gambling operators until April. After that, they will choose whether or not to officially begin taking applications from casino companies. Reports are indicating that Caesars Entertainment and Hard Rock International may throw their hat into the mix.
Do you want to see a casino built in the Gold Coast? Will this help or hurt the economy here? Let us know what you think in the comment section below!
Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.Updated October 15, 2013 12:29:39
Anti-gambling campaigners are angry at the Queensland Government's decision to offer up to three new casino licences.
Under the plan, more than a third of Australia's casinos will be in Queensland.
New South Wales has recently granted its second casino licence.
Queensland has 2.5 million fewer people, but could have seven casinos within a decade.
Premier Campbell Newman says extra revenue is not a factor in the State Government's decision.
The ABC understands Aquis Great Barrier Reef Resort in Cairns in far north Queensland will apply for one of the licences.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate wants a second casino for the city in the state's south-east.
Queensland looking 'faded and jaded'
Mr Newman says his state is looking faded and jaded.
Current major licence holders in Qld:
- Treasury Casino in Brisbane
- Jupiters Gold Coast
- Jupiters Townsville Hotel and Casino
- The Reef Hotel Casino in Cairns
He says it is time to compete with the best the world can offer in integrated tourist resorts and that means potentially almost doubling the state's casino licenses.
'There'll be potentially another three licenses - seven in total in Queensland - up to seven,' he said.
'There will be one attached to the EOI process for the Brisbane CBD superblocks.
'Potentially another two available for people to bid on elsewhere in the state.
'We're in a global competition for tourists.
'The offering we have at the moment, I'm afraid, is not up there with out competitors and that's why we're taking this step.'
Another Brisbane casino 'technically possible'
However, Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney says gaming will not dominate the new facilities.
'There won't be any more of the stamp alone-type casinos that we've seen in the past,' he said.
The State Government is not ruling out the new Brisbane resort casino operating alongside the existing Echo Entertainment-owned Treasury casino in the same city.
'In commercial reality, it's not likely, but technically it's possible,' he said.
James Packer's Crown Resorts is eyeing off the new site to add to its plans for Sydney's Barangaroo development and thriving casinos in Melbourne, Perth, Macau and London.
The expansion of the Brisbane gambling market sets up another round in the casino wars between Crown and Echo Entertainment, owners of Sydney's The Star Casino.
Three months ago, Mr Packer launched an extraordinary attack on Echo's existing casinos on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane.
'In Brisbane, Echo have done a terrible job,' he said.
'I think the quality of the properties in Surfers Paradise and Brisbane are a disgrace.'
He told the Australian Financial Review newspaper that Echo has welched on a deal it had to reinvest in its Queensland casinos.
'Letting their Brisbane facility be as low rent as it is - I mean it's shocking,' he said.
'It'll be interesting to see where Premier Newman ends up on the ideological question of competition.'
Mr Packer might have got good news from the Queensland Government but he should not expect critics of casino expansions to disappear.
'Qld Government is being greedy'
Reverend Tim Costello, who chairs the Australian Churches Gambling Taskforce, says he finds the Queensland Government's decision as 'deeply depressing'.
'These are state licences and the state should be acting in the interests of Queensland people,' he said.
'How do you explain that Victoria has one casino and a population bigger than Queensland.
'New South Wales at the moment only one, maybe two.
'Western Australia only one.
'Extraordinary now to seven casinos in Queensland - I think this is utterly irresponsible.'
Gambling counsellor Reverend John Tully says their presence will have a devastating impact.
'Rip families apart, desperately, and each other gambler will affect 10 to 15 other people,' he said.
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Reverend Tully says the Queensland Government is being greedy.
'A certain French politician said the art is to pluck the goose without too much hissing - well, gamblers and addicts are willing taxpayers,' he said.
The Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) has also raised concern about the impact of more casinos and gambling opportunities.
QCOSS president Karyn Walsh says gambling has a dreadful impact on some people.
'While I know it is something that is considered something good for the economy, we also know that for people in communities it's a great cause of heartbreak,' he said.
'People lose their homes, people lose so much of their social networks because of addiction and gambling and the loss of money.'
Ms Walsh says the Newman Government must plan ahead for the social impact of more gambling.
She says there is considerable evidence that links gambling to poverty.
'If there's a plan to expand this much, which seems a lot, then it's really important that there be a plan to look at how we're going to measure impact,' she said.
'What's going to be done to mitigate the number of families and individuals who will be impacted on.'
New casinos 'a desperate act'
The State Opposition says the Newman Government's support for new casinos is a desperate measure.
Opposition treasury spokesman Curtis Pitt says the Government has the wrong priorities.
'One can say that it is a desperate act,' Mr Pitt said.
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'The Government needs to be really clear on whether they intend to end the moratorium on new poker machines.'
Mr Pitt says the state will be flooded with gaming houses.
'To pretend that we are going to be able to compete with Singapore and other places in the Asian market is going to be very interesting to see,' he said.
The ABC has attempted to contact Echo Entertainment but have received no response.
Topics:gambling, community-organisations, activism-and-lobbying, public-sector, regulation, qld
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First posted October 15, 2013 07:07:50