Plan first announced in 2015
Australia’s ACT government has ordered Aquis Entertainment to moderate its AU$$330 million proposed expansion plan for Casino Canberra and reduce the number of gaming machines included in the expansion.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr informed the media that Aquis’ proposal “cannot proceed in its current form.”
“The ACT government has been engaging with Aquis on their proposal to redevelop the casino precinct over the past few years,” Barr said in a statement. “As part of this process, a legislative framework was put in place to allow Canberra Casino to purchase electronic gaming machine authorizations from existing licensees. This process would have contributed to the overall reduction in EGMs in the territory through mandatory forfeiture of authorizations.”
According to Barr, the legislative assembly “also placed a number of harm-minimization requirements on Canberra Casino operating EGMs, including mandatory pre-commitment and $2 maximum bets. Given these conditions as well as other considerations including the lack of detailed financial information from Aquis, the cabinet has determined that the current process is no longer a viable avenue to progress this proposal.”
The government invited Aquis to present a “smaller-scale casino redevelopment,” he added.
Aquis CEO Jessica Mellor issued a response saying an “integrated entertainment precinct in Canberra’s CBD” represents a “once-in-a-lifetime tourism infrastructure opportunity.” She said Aquis “remains committed to its vision for investing in the development of Casino Canberra as a vital piece of tourism infrastructure.” She pointed out that the casino is “a sustainable operation that employs over 250 Canberrans and contributes many millions in taxation revenue every year.
It’s taken the government three years to reject the plan, a process that has irked the casino operator, according to the Canberra Times. The redevelopment plan, first announced in 2015, includes a plan to transform the Glebe Park precinct, adding hotels, high-end retail, and a new convention center.
