Perth part of Packer's plan for international gambling city

An overhead view of the casino at Singapore's Marina Bay Sands complex -

A new six-star hotel tower and up to 830 more gaming machines and tables at the Burswood Entertainment Complex will go a long way to help owner James Packer achieve his goal of making Perth one of the world's premier gaming centres.

Mr Packer revealed his ambitions in December when he announced the precinct would be rebranded Crown Perth when renovations were completed later this year.

With the number of millionaires in Asia growing each day, the casino and media mogul is concerned Australia is falling behind Asian nations such as Singapore, Macau and the Philippines in the increasingly lucrative but also competitive international tourism market.

One hundred million Chinese are expected to travel overseas by 2020, spending $800 billion per year, and they were heading to other Asian nations, he said.

Asian governments were throwing millions of dollars into tourism marketing campaigns and reaping the rewards.

For example, Macau had overtaken Las Vegas as the number one destination for gaming tourists. Singapore was projected to do so next year, while the Philippines had stated its aim to become number two in the market.

Mr Packer also has plans to build a hotel and casino at Barangaroo on Sydney Harbour.

The new Burswood hotel, announced yesterday, would include about 400 rooms and about 100 suites - all of the highest luxury.

Premier Colin Barnett said it would be the best hotel in Australia.

While he talked up the benefits it would bring to the city's tourism market, with hundreds more beds helping to fill some of the huge shortage, and the state's economy, he conceded the government would cop some flack for supporting Crown's application for 500 more gaming machines and 130 new gaming tables.

Burswood chief executive office Barry Felstead said the new licences were needed to help fund the hotel development and construction - due to begin by mid next year - would not start before the Gaming and Wagering Commission approved the application.

Burswood casino also is sitting on a licence that allows for an additional 200 gaming machines than the 1800 it presently has, meaning the total in 2016 could be as many as 2500 machines and 250 tables.

But not everyone is happy at the idea of Perth becoming a gambling tourist destination.

CentreCare counselling services executive manager Rod West said the increased access to gaming would inevitably lead to more addicts.

However he was satisfied the "proliferation" of gaming machines would be contained to the Burswood site.

"While it's always a difficult balance between the right of individuals to enjoy the gambling experience, which is part of the Australian culture, any increase in availability brings with it the increased potential for people to run into problem gaming behaviours," he said.

Mr West said CentreCare had a good working relationship with Burswood and it would seek further assistance in addressing problem gambling.

About 600 gambling addicts access CentreCare counselling services each year.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald, 2 August 2012