CAESARS THE MOMENT
GLOBAL gaming giant Caesars is getting serious in its talks to have its first Australian casino resort based on the Gold Coast.
After an initial visit last year, the international heavyweight recently held high-level talks with Gold Coast tourism bigwigs, the Bulletin can reveal.
Caesars president of international development Steven Tight and some of his executives dined with a group that included Gold Coast Tourism chairman Paul Donovan and CEO Martin Winter. Another person at the table, Village Roadshow theme parks CEO Clark Kirby, said he felt Caesars was keen to develop a site, not just operate it.
LAS Vegas entertainment giant Caesars has hit the Gold Coast for high-level talks on potential for its first Australian casino resort, wining and dining with tourism bosses.
Caesars international development president Steven Tight led a recent trip to renew talks with Mayor Tom Tate and the Palaszczuk Government including State Development Minister Cameron Dick.
Mr Tight and fellow executives also had a dinner with Gold Coast tourism bigwigs at Mamasan Broadbeach.
An insider described the meeting as “informal”: “We were making them feel good about being on the Gold Coast.”
In attendance were Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter, chair Paul Donovan, Village Roadshow theme parks CEO Clark Kirby and Dreamworld CEO Craig Davidson.
Caesars return comes after it was revealed Mr Tight visited a year ago, eyeing the Glitter Strip for an Australian site.
Back then, Mr Tight said Caesars was doing an internal feasibility study on whether the Gold Coast could support another big integrated resort.
The insider said of Caesars’ top brass returning: “It means they are interested.”
Mr Kirby said he felt Caesars was keen to develop a site,
not just operate it: “I don’t think they were looking to just be an operator – they didn’t give that impression. They seemed encouraged by (the Coast’s) growing tourism base.”
Mr Donovan declined to comment on Caesars. “But the Commonwealth Games have highlighted everything good about the Coast and why you should invest.”
State Government’s integrated resort development process includes potential for a second casino licence.
Tourism Minister Kate Jones said: “We’ve followed a process when it comes to a casino licence and we’re going to continue to follow that.”
Casino operator The Star has outlined multi-billion-dollar plans for five more towers at Broadbeach, without gaming increasing. Star CEO Matt Bekier has always said expansion was dependent on “market conditions and competitor landscape at the ... time”.