Canberra Casino to expand with $330 million gambling and entertainment precinct

The new owners of the Canberra Casino have revealed details of a $330 million plan for a new gambling and entertainment precinct in the suburb of Civic in the centre of Australia’s capital.

Having bought the Casino and its licence late last year, Hong Kong-based Aquis Entertainment is proposing to added two hotels, restaurants, bars and high-end retail outlets.

The Group, which is behind the Aquis project in Cairns plans to begin development next year.

Aquis Executive Director Justin Fung said the project would create 200 full-time jobs new jobs and 420 ongoing jobs, explaining “it's (a) major redevelopment of the existing Casino, as well as the adjoining land between our current casino and the Convention Centre.

"We are talking about revitalising the southern part of Civic and creating that vibrancy that is lacking here."

The project is set for completion in 2018, with the tallest building standing at 20 storeys high.

Fung added “we would market it as a integrated resort and give people an opportunity from Sydney to come down to Canberra. It is that type of project that can be a magnet.”

As part of the project, Fung said the company was asking the ACT Government to overturn a ban on poker machines at the casino.

Currently the use of poker machines is restricted to non-for profit operators.

However, Fung’s proposal is for Aquis to purchase existing poker machines that other clubs would sell on a voluntary basis.

However, Clubs ACT said the ACT Government should disregard the push by Aquis to be allowed to own and operate poker machines.

Clubs ACT Chief Executive Jeff House said the rules, which restrict for-profit organisations from operating the machines, should not be changed.

House stated “it's certainly been seen, at least from the club industry, as a line in the sand, and successive Governments have seen that as a line in the sand, it seems that those sands are shifting a little bit."

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has not ruled out amending the current legislation around poker machines, explaining “there's no change in government policy at this stage (but) we'll look at the details of the proposal.

"We welcome their proposal ... I've received some information in relation to the proposal, but we haven't yet fully analysed all of the costs and benefits.”

8th April 2015 - TRADE MINISTER CALLS FOR AQUIS DEVELOPMENT TO BE FAST-TRACKED

12th February 2015 - DESIGNS REVEALED FOR NEW CANBERRA CONVENTION CENTRE