Is Caesars still in the game?
U.S.-based gaming operator Hard Rock International sees the potential for gold on Australia’s Gold Coast. Edward Tracy, CEO for Asia Pacific of Hard Rock International, is already talking to government officials about the company’s interest in developing a resort in the market.
“We believe Queensland has a strong market potential for a new product paradigm, one that is more entertainment-centric, not merely in physical amenities themselves but how they are delivered to customers,” Tracy said in a statement. “People flock to the Hard Rock because of the lifestyle element the brand exudes. The casino is but one among a plethora of entertainment options. We believe each of the proposed locations in Queensland offers its own individual charm and opportunity and I can envisage a Hard Rock product for each setting.”
Daniel Cheng, Hard Rock’s senior vice-president for development Asia, said the company has the “utmost interest” in building a “global tourism hub” in the region. He said a Hard Rock IR will “complement Queensland’s existing world-class tourism assets and vault the state’s tourism industry to greater heights.”
Another U.S.-based operator, Caesars Entertainment, previously planned with partner ASF Consortium to build a $3 billion development at the Southport Spit. That project was nixed by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last year, but Caesars is said to be still in the running in some capacity.
Queensland Tourism Minister Kate Jones talked about Caesars as if it remained a contender in a recent conversation with the Gold Coast Bulletin, saying, “When we go to market on the Gold Coast, we’re making it clear that the focus should be on big-name entertainment, bringing the likes of Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and Jennifer Lopez to the Coast to perform. This is the model that Hard Rock is currently building in Spain and that Caesars has at destinations all over the world.”
Hard Rock is in expansion mode. It has plans to open a casino in Dublin and is also one of the many global operators looking to bid on a gaming license in Japan.
