Casino Canberra set for a revamp
The Casino Canberra could soon get a revamp as talks for an upgrade in the venue have begun between the operator and the government.
Australia.- The Casino Canberra could finally get a revamp years after it began talking about it. Four years after the possibility for redevelopment was dismissed by the government, the venue may finally get an improvement.
The casino operator contacted the government to discuss the issue yet again. The deputy director general of the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development directorate, Kareena Arthy, said it’s only an early discussion. “It’s very recent,” she said.
“We are eager to be able to deliver Canberra the kind of world-class entertainment precinct an emerging international city deserves,” Casino Canberra chief executive Allison Gallaugher said.
The operator “awaits for advice from Government on the clarification of a range of issues that will allow us to progress our planning. We look forward to working productively with the ACT Government and local industry to progress our vision.”
The rejection
Back in 2018, the government dropped any type of revamp possibilities. ACT Gaming Minister Gordon Ramsay had asserted that the local government needed to know the number of machines the company planned on operating as local authorities were actually planning to cut machine numbers to 4k. That would have 130 licences removed out of circulation should the casino choose to operate 200 machines.
“Cabinet has not yet reached a final position on the unsolicited bid from Aquis,” Barr’s spokeswoman confirmed and asserted: “Currently, the ACT government is awaiting financial information from Aquis which will inform its final position.”
