Nearly four years after the initial redevelopment of Casino Canberra was proposed, future actions on the project could be back on track after the venue’s owner resumed its contact with the ACT Government.
The development involved plans for a new convention centre, luxury hotels addition, as well as new cafés, bars and shopping centres. After a long process of negotiation talks, the Government revealed late in 2018 it would dismiss the unsolicited bid of the casino. The key points for that were the Government’s decision not to make certain area available for gambling, as well as restrictions associated with the number of poker machines allowed.
According to reports, Casino Canberra has recently reached the Government to initiated some talks. Kareena Arthy, the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate’s deputy director general, has explained that the talks between the two parties have got as far as this. She also confirmed that the Government was only very recently contacted by the casino owners.
In addition, the Government revealed that the local regulatory body, the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission, has joined forces with the casino to make sure that the proposal is permitted under the provisions of the Casino Control ACT 2006.
Casino Canberra Needs the Government’s Clarification on a Number of Issues
Allison Gallaugher, the Chief Executive Officer of Casino Canberra, has confirmed that the casino owners remained committed to seeking further redevelopment of the venue. She noted that the group was willing to deliver a great variety of entertainment options to Canberra. Ms Gallaugher also explained that the Casino Canberra still awaits advice from Government on the explanation of a number of issues which would allow them to go on with the planning process.
Shareholders of Casino Canberra approved the acquisition bid of Blue Whale Entertainment to take over the casino in March 2019 but the transaction is awaiting the regulator’s approval in order to be finalised.
The current owner of the casino – Hong Kong-based Aquis – has asked for permission to run 500 poker machines in return to the redevelopment project estimated at AU$330 million. Unfortunately for the casino, under the laws passed by the Legislative Assembly of the ACT in 2017, the casino is only allowed to operate 200 pokies and 60 fully-automated table games. There are also some limitations under which casino patrons are allowed AU$2 spins and must preliminarily determine the amount which they are ready to lose.
Under the existing legislation, the casino is not allowed to immediately start offering poker machines. Instead, it would first have to purchase poker machine permits from hostels and clubs after making sure they meet a number of requirements. The latter include an approved casino redevelopment and assessment of the social impact that could be brought by the number of pokies the casino applies for.
A spokeswoman of the ACT Government explained that there was a meeting between representatives of Casino Canberra and the Government on December 13th, 2018, at the time when the unsolicited bid of the casino was rejected. She further shared that some other possibilities for redevelopment were discussed and confirmed that there have been discussions held between the Government and the casino.
- Author
Olivia Cole
