G'day punters, journos, high rollers - casino whale VIP's, gambling millionaires and billionaires, poker sharks, entertainment and arts news junkies, media tycoons, politicians, insiders, outsiders, legal eagles... one and all. You know who you are. Oriental high rolling VIP's, all 200 plus of them, are the world's most sought after casino clients, and James Packer's Crown Limited is demanding that the Australian government life their own game to help ensure the whales will come swimming (and jetting) to Australia. Media Man and Gambling911 with this high rolling report...
Casino and gambling big wigs have started to force the hand of the federal Government to streamline customs and immigration processing for Oriental high rolling whales flying down under into Australia.
James Packer's Crown Casino, and now Burswood and floating 'Infinity' wants visas made much easier to obtain, more frequent direct flights from Asia and VIP customs lounges at airports so high rolling gamblers can bypass those long queues.
Crown's chief executive Rowen Craigie advised the press the enhancements were absolutely necessary if Australia hopes to plug into the extremely lucrative middle and upper-class Chinese tourism market.
"They are the sort of issues we want to talk about with the federal Government," Craigie said, noting high-rollers wanted first-class treatment (in all aspects of their visit.)
In Singapore, where two world class casino resorts worth $11 billion opened last year, the Government has built a private lounge to fast-track customs and immigration processing for high-rollers. Officials meet and greet VIPs at the air-bridge and escort them through the process, then casino valets and porters arrive.
"It needs to be competitive," Craigie said. "At the moment, it's not."
Craigie welcomed the review that the Government announced last month into education visas. He said a similar process needed to be applied to tourist visas.
In another ultra competitive sector, higher education, the industry won the review into education visa processing after complaining that lack of access was discouraging students from studying in Australia. A spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Chris Bowen would not commit to reviewing tourist visas.
Some insiders say the Immigration Department and some casinos have long-standing, prior arrangements for certain VIPs to access slightly more streamlined immigration processing.
"Australia's migration and visa programs are global and non-discriminatory," the spokeswoman said. "Where possible (we) offer streamlined processing to low-risk clients, primarily through electronic visas but also through preferred processing of applications lodged through trusted agents, as occurs in China."
Packer mate, Sir Richard Branson, king of Virgin (airline included) has casino whales on his radar, however its unclear if RB will be going after the sector this year. Packer's other Brit mate, Damian Aspinall, earlier this week advised he would be closing his Aspinall's (land based) casino, which can't have given the sector much of a confidence boost, but it might have lifted the confidence levels of gamblers, with gamblers obviously chipping away at the profits by winning. And we all thought the house always wins! Well, maybe it does, but Aspinall's house is down. Packer won't want the same luck, nor will Branson.
Stay tuned for more on the high rolling VIP's and Crown Casino management wish list.
Sneak Peak Into The World Of Oriental Casino Whales And High Rollers...
The king of the Oriental casino whales, Stanley Ho, has been in the news a lot lately, so we thought it was timely to offer the loyal readership a glimpse into the world of a whale and his pool of Asia high rollers, who by the way James Packer's Crown Casino (and Tabcorp's Star City) just to be fair, are looking to lure down under to Australia.
This is Lifestyle of the rich (and often not so famous). They don't want to be that well known outside their inner circle casino and poker dens of choice. They are the world's real casino whales and super VIP's.
Stanley Ho is one of the world's most powerful casino super whales, and he's got about 200 other whales to keep satisfied. Australian gambling entrepreneurs are looking for a greater bite of the whales swimming the ocean, and one needs to have the best lure, bait and service to ensure the whale clientele keep coming back for more.
It's the high stakes world of casino and poker tourism, and competition for the gambling and entertainment dollar has never been tougher.
They jet in for free on a $40 million Gulfstream, direct from Shanghai. The family of three is whisked from the airport in a limousine to villa valued at $27,000 a night and occupying the entire 38th floor at Melbourne's Crown Towers.
A team of staff, including a butler and chef, just meet just about any request the whale will have.
On Level 39 just about anything can happen, if the whale desires. There's gaming salons, all private, a croupier, cards and a wooden pallet are at the table. Officially betting limits are $300,000 per hand, but by special arrangement, this high roller could punt $1 million or more on a single hand of baccarat. He's one of the new US-dollar billionaires of China, a group that jumped by double last year. China is home to about 200 billionaires, second only to the United States, sitting on 403.
Casinos from Sydney, to Melbourne, to Macau to Singapore and Las Vegas are investing billions to secure a good part of this rapidly expanding sector. In Australia, the two biggest casino operators, Crown Limited and Tabcorp are spending $1.9 billion and $1.6 billion respectively on their gaming venues across four states. You could call it cash burn on the casinos part, but the rewards can be high for winning casino operators, where money (and world class service and entertainment) are the name of the game.
New six-star hotels, private jets, entertainment rooms, private gaming salons and dozens of celebrity-chef restaurants are all part of the extreme makeovers designed to make the likes of Star City, Crown Melbourne, Perth's Burswood, and Jupiters on the Gold Coast mega entertainment and tourism destinations. James Packer even has his 'Infinity' yacht ready for them off the coast of Western Australia.
The last Kerry Packer was once the king of the whales and only a few casinos in Las Vegas would accommodate him, thanks to his ability to break a casino, if lady luck went his way, and if often did.
Today, high rollers, most of them from China, also play hard and millions of dollars can pass across the table in an hour or two.
"I wouldn't call it war," Crown boss Rowen Craigie said.
"But obviously there's major investments in integrated resorts."
Integrated resorts is a term now frequently used by the newest player on the block, Singapore, to describe the mega entertainment and tourism complexes it has built around casinos. Singapore saw the boom coming, and threw out gambling restrictions in 2004 to invite private investment of $US11 billion in two super ambitious gaming, hotel and convention resorts.
The effect on inbound tourism was virtually immediate, increasing by 22% since Marina Bay Sands and Resort World Sentosa opened in the past year. "When it comes to tackling tourism from China, you have to look at what Singapore is doing," Craigie said.
At Marina Bay Sands, which cost $US6 billion, daily gaming revenue hit $4.5 million late last year, after the mid-2010 opening. It came at a cost to casinos elsewhere, with Crown's VIP revenues at its Melbourne and Perth casinos in the first six months of this financial year taking a hit, down 10% or about $35 million.
Crown's chairman James Packer used the company's AGM late last year to call for state and federal governments to change their attitude from ignoring to instead promoting casinos in official domestic and international tourism campaigns. Packer would like to see heavy private investment in "integrated resorts" matched by government backing in the form of marketing, improved visa access and procedures for VIPs and other gamblers and more direct flights from Asia.
In Singapore, high rollers are greeted by officials at Changi airport, and escorted through a private lounge for fast-tracked customs and immigration formalities. The Singaporean government actively promotes the two resorts through a special branch within its tourism authority. The resorts are a crucial part of the national campaign to rebrand Singapore as a fun place to be.
Packer told the AGM in November "I believe that Australia needs to meet the challenges and capture the opportunities that the fast growing tourism markets from Asia are presenting to this country. In order to progress this, I truly believe that it will be necessary for federal and state governments, the broader tourism industry and key Asian-focused tourism operators such as Crown to work more closely together."
A spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Chris Bowen would not commit to reviewing tourist visas for gamblers. "Australia's migration and visa programs are global and non-discriminatory," the spokeswoman said.
Cashed-up Chinese tourists want to gamble, but they also want to experience the finer things in life, Craigie said. Their preference is for urban attractions, so Uluru, Sydney's beaches and the Great Barrier Reef are not enough.
"You need urban tourist attractions, not just natural resource tourist attractions," Craigie said.
At Singapore's Marina Bay Sands conventions of up to 45,000 delegates can be accommodated, there are 2,560 hotel rooms and suites and a SkyPark which sits like a gigantic ship's deck stretched atop three high-rise towers. The Iron Chef of America Mario Batali, is one of a handful of world-class celebrity chefs running restaurants in the complex. There's an art and science museum and in coming weeks theatre guests can take their pick of The Lion King, Elvis Costello or Slumdog Millionaire's AR Rahman.
In lifting gambling bans in 2004, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsein Loong withstood considerable community pressure, including claims that the casinos would cost Singaporean families more than $500 million a year due to problem gambling. Locals are taxed $S100 a day to gamble in the casinos.
In 2005 Lee said: "The great majority will not go there to gamble. They will be tourists, executives or businessmen who go to enjoy the resort of attend conventions or conferences."
Tabcorp backs Packer and Crown's sentiment on the need for casinos and government co-operation to boost tourism. Crown customer research found that its clients venture out of the complex to enjoy other tourist attractions during their visit, spending about $40 million (check) outside the Crown site every year.
Tabcorp is spending almost $1 billion upgrading Sydney's Star City and another $625 billion upgrading its three casinos in Queensland. "I absolutely believe Star City will boost tourism," Star's managing director Sid Vaikunta told Agenda.
In Sydney, Tabcorp is making its first serious play for the high roller and luxury tourism market, which for Crown Casino, the market leader on VIPs, means the first real domestic competition.
High rollers collectively plunged $28 billion on Australian gaming tables in the first six months of last year. Tabcorp's share was 16 per cent, or $4.48 billion. Across the 12 months to June 2010, VIP turnover at Crown's two casinos in Melbourne and Perth was $40 billion.
"Our goal is to grow the market," Vaikunta said. The biggest gaming revenue day of the year at Star is Christmas Day and Star's intention with the redevelopment is to continue to look after its main audience of local gamblers, while opening up a new market of VIPs and rich tourists.
"We believe in the city, it has charisma, and we want it to reach that potential, as a charismatic city," Vaikunta said. "We are spending almost $1 billion and a large part of that is a trade-up in quality."
Over the next year or so a new luxury 172-room hotel will open and among the six celebrity chefs fronting 20 new restaurants are David Chang from New York, master of modern Italian Stefano Manfedi and Masterchef star Adriano Zumbo. Last week Star spent the first half of a $100 million budget for two private jets for VIPs: a Bombardier Global Express XRS.
Vaikunta said the exclusive A-list concert with Bon Jovi at Star City in December last year was a taste of things to come, when a $100-million, 3000-seat events centre is completed next year (2012). Take any big act that toured Australia last year - Lady Gaga, ACDC, Guns N Roses - and this is the calibre of musical exclusive the casino hopes to sell, at a premium price, in this new venue, he said.
The complex is being re-orientated to face the harbour, with floor to ceiling glass, outdoor gaming and balconies. Inside will be significantly changed from the windowless maze of gaming rooms that Star has been lampooned for in the past. Also going is the dated and gawdy tropical oasis display and in its place will be chandeliers and contemporary furniture.
Vaikunta hopes that in return the state and federal governments will promote Star, and give it more poker machine licenses. While no formal proposal on increasing poker machine licenses had been put to the NSW Government or opposition, Vaikunta pointed out that Crown Melbourne had 2500 poker machines, about 1000 more than Star. QLD Premier Anna Bligh recently gave the go ahead to increase by 500 the number of poker machines in two of Tabcorp's 3 QLD casinos. The Victorian Government last year gave Crown Melbourne the green light to add another 150 new gaming tables.
Macau, the only Chinese territory where gaming is legal, has just overtaken Las Vegas as the world's biggest destination for gamblers. In recent years $A17 billion has been invested in casino resorts and monthly gross casino revenue hit $US2.4 billion in December. Annual gross gaming revenue hit a record $23.5 billion, trumping Las Vegas strip takings by four fold, according to analysts. Visitors to the modest sized province have increased from 9.5 million in 2001 to more than 23 million.
Singapore is forecast to become the gaming capital of the world by 2012 and national target for visitors is 17 million by 2015. In Australia, Packer told his AGM, tourist numbers had been flat for a decade at around 5 million people.
Packer must be sorry his bid to develop one of the Singapore casinos failed. But he is tipped to raise his hand again, when other markets open up overseas. Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines are all considering "integrated resort" developments.
Stay tuned for more on the super whales and high rolling VIP's, and if you can't wait for the next plane, feel welcome to browse the casino games and reviews on the website. You don't get a butler online, but at least its private. Might be just the thing to get you in the mood to visit Crown's super whale offerings down under in Melbourne, or take your gambling to a new level of Packer's 'Infinity' floating casino.
Crown Limited and Australian government departments - your throw of the dice. No bluff!
Online Casinos, Online Poker and Sports Betting...
Ok readers, we hear you... you also want to know some of the best places to play online (that accept Aussies) if your in or around the Asia Pacific - Australia (including Tassie) and New Zealand, so here it is...
PartyCasino.com
Captain Cooks Casino
Betfair (sports betting only)
PKR.com (poker, slots including Marvel slot games and sports betting)
PartyPoker.com (online poker at one of the world's most respected poker rooms and gaming brands)
Profiles
Australian Casinos
World Casino Directory
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Australia
Media Man and Gambling911 remind our readers to keep the following in mind:
Take the time to research and learn games before placing down money
Media Man, Casino News Media and Gambling911 are website portals. Not casinos as such, however are recognised as world leading websites that cover the sector and act as central points to games, news, reviews and more.
Readers... er, punters, how did you like our report? Tell us in the forum.
If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. Gaming is just one of a dozen sectors covered
*the writer owns shares in Crown Limited and Ten Network Holdings
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Sunday, January 30, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
bwin and PartyGaming shareholders approve merger
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bwin and PartyGaming shareholders approve merger
The legal measures specified by the merger plan can now be implemented during the next few weeks.
Vienna/Gibraltar, 28 January 2011 – bwin Interactive Entertainment AG (bwin) and PartyGaming Plc (PartyGaming) shareholders have today approved the merger of their two companies. These approvals in both extraordinary general meetings (EGM) were a condition for carrying out the proposed merger.
Commenting on the results of today’s EGMs, Jim Ryan and Norbert Teufelberger, the proposed co-CEOs of bwin.party digital entertainment plc, said: "Today’s shareholder meetings were a key milestone in the overall process, putting the transformational merger of our two companies well on the way to completion. We are delighted that both sets of shareholders have overwhelmingly recognised the strategic, operational and financial benefits of creating the world’s largest listed online gaming company."
bwin EGM details
A total of 335 shareholders attended bwin's EGM, representing a total of 18.1 million shares. The results of voting at the general meeting in Vienna have been published at www.bwin.org. The legal measures specified by the merger plan can now be implemented during the next few weeks. bwin shareholders will receive 12.23 bwin.party shares denominated in GBP for each bwin share. This share exchange will be carried out automatically and free of charge for bwin shareholders.
PartyGaming EGM details
At PartyGaming’s EGM held in Gibraltar today, all 9 resolutions relating to the approval of the merger with bwin and associated matters, including the change of name from PartyGaming Plc to bwin.party digital entertainment plc, were approved by PartyGaming shareholders.
About bwin
The bwin Group has over 20 million registered customers in more than 25 core markets. On a number of different platforms, the Group offers sports betting, poker, casino games, soft and skill games, as well as audio and video streams of top sporting events such as the German Soccer League. The holding company bwin Interactive Entertainment AG is listed in the ATX on the Vienna Stock Exchange (ID code BWIN, Reuters ID code BWIN.VI), and as the parent company provides various services such as software development, marketing, communications, human resources and finance for its subsidiaries and associated companies. The operational business of the bwin Group is carried out by subsidiaries and associated companies on the basis of licences (e.g. Germany, Italy and Gibraltar). Full details about the Company can be found on its investor relations website.
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bwin and PartyGaming shareholders approve merger
The legal measures specified by the merger plan can now be implemented during the next few weeks.
Vienna/Gibraltar, 28 January 2011 – bwin Interactive Entertainment AG (bwin) and PartyGaming Plc (PartyGaming) shareholders have today approved the merger of their two companies. These approvals in both extraordinary general meetings (EGM) were a condition for carrying out the proposed merger.
Commenting on the results of today’s EGMs, Jim Ryan and Norbert Teufelberger, the proposed co-CEOs of bwin.party digital entertainment plc, said: "Today’s shareholder meetings were a key milestone in the overall process, putting the transformational merger of our two companies well on the way to completion. We are delighted that both sets of shareholders have overwhelmingly recognised the strategic, operational and financial benefits of creating the world’s largest listed online gaming company."
bwin EGM details
A total of 335 shareholders attended bwin's EGM, representing a total of 18.1 million shares. The results of voting at the general meeting in Vienna have been published at www.bwin.org. The legal measures specified by the merger plan can now be implemented during the next few weeks. bwin shareholders will receive 12.23 bwin.party shares denominated in GBP for each bwin share. This share exchange will be carried out automatically and free of charge for bwin shareholders.
PartyGaming EGM details
At PartyGaming’s EGM held in Gibraltar today, all 9 resolutions relating to the approval of the merger with bwin and associated matters, including the change of name from PartyGaming Plc to bwin.party digital entertainment plc, were approved by PartyGaming shareholders.
About bwin
The bwin Group has over 20 million registered customers in more than 25 core markets. On a number of different platforms, the Group offers sports betting, poker, casino games, soft and skill games, as well as audio and video streams of top sporting events such as the German Soccer League. The holding company bwin Interactive Entertainment AG is listed in the ATX on the Vienna Stock Exchange (ID code BWIN, Reuters ID code BWIN.VI), and as the parent company provides various services such as software development, marketing, communications, human resources and finance for its subsidiaries and associated companies. The operational business of the bwin Group is carried out by subsidiaries and associated companies on the basis of licences (e.g. Germany, Italy and Gibraltar). Full details about the Company can be found on its investor relations website.
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Saturday, January 22, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Casino News Media: PartyCasino Wins Media Man 'Online Casino Of The Month' Award
Casino News Media: PartyCasino Wins Media Man 'Online Casino Of The Month' Award
PartyCasino.com Wins Media Man Online Casino Award
PartyCasino.com has been awarded the Media Man and Casino News Media "Online Casino Of The Month".
PartyGaming's igaming suite has grown a custom to winning awards since they first opened for business in 1997.
The competition for the coveted award was intense again this month with massive bids from both WPTCasino.com, Captain Cooks Casino, Virgin Casino, Betfair, PKR and Noble Casino however there can only be one winner... ladies and gentlemen, that's PartyCasino.com
The award follows PartyPoker's EGR Poker Operator Of The Year and PartyGaming also made the shortlist for EGR Operator Of The Year. Recently PartyGaming's PartyPoker.com also won the Casino News Media "Online Poker Website Of The Month".
The Media Man - Casino News Media accolade is based on a combination of elements including user experience, innovation, trustworthiness, customer service, gameplay, affiliate program offerings, newsworthiness and company values.
PartyCasino.com is one of a number of PartyGaming brands.
The most popular PartyCasino.com games of late include Heist, Circus, Rambo, Palladium Slot, The Godfather, Sinatra, Slotbox, Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Mission: Impossible, The Terminator, Cleopatra, Sinatra, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, The Amazing Spider-Man, Monopoly, Resident Evil, Melon Madness, Wheel Of Fortune and Mega Fortune Wheel.
The PartyCasino.com jackpot is currently approaching the $2 million mark. Players can also compete for The Big One and Marvel Hero Jackpot, playing the Marvel super hero themed online slot games.
PartyCasino's most recent game releases include Shaaark! SuperBet, Crocodopolis, Alice's Wonderland, Glamour Puss, Super Cubes, Heist, Palladium Slot and Circus Slot.
PartyGaming CEO Jim Ryan has gone on record advising PartyCasino will soon feature more Hollywood blockbuster themed slots. A few in the know journalists and media agents have been recently tipped off that an all time classic movie adaption will be showcased in the PartyCasino portfolio within 1 month. PartyCasino has the world's most impressive line up of Hollywood themed games, and more are just around the corner.
PartyCasino.com and PartyPoker.com customers can also benefit from rewards and bonuses via PartyPoints and the Palladium Lounge. Be certain to check out the PartyCasino exclusive "Cash Machine" that is being championed as one of the greatest online casino promos ever.
Media Man, Casino News Media and Global Gaming Directory do have a b2b relationship with PartyGaming, as they do with dozens of other companies in the gaming, igaming, media and entertainment industry.
Websites
PartyCasino.com
PartyPoker.com
World Poker Tour Casino
Profiles
PartyCasino.com
PartyPoker.com
World Poker Tour
PartyGaming
PartyCasino.com Wins Media Man Online Casino Award
PartyCasino.com has been awarded the Media Man and Casino News Media "Online Casino Of The Month".
PartyGaming's igaming suite has grown a custom to winning awards since they first opened for business in 1997.
The competition for the coveted award was intense again this month with massive bids from both WPTCasino.com, Captain Cooks Casino, Virgin Casino, Betfair, PKR and Noble Casino however there can only be one winner... ladies and gentlemen, that's PartyCasino.com
The award follows PartyPoker's EGR Poker Operator Of The Year and PartyGaming also made the shortlist for EGR Operator Of The Year. Recently PartyGaming's PartyPoker.com also won the Casino News Media "Online Poker Website Of The Month".
The Media Man - Casino News Media accolade is based on a combination of elements including user experience, innovation, trustworthiness, customer service, gameplay, affiliate program offerings, newsworthiness and company values.
PartyCasino.com is one of a number of PartyGaming brands.
The most popular PartyCasino.com games of late include Heist, Circus, Rambo, Palladium Slot, The Godfather, Sinatra, Slotbox, Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Mission: Impossible, The Terminator, Cleopatra, Sinatra, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, The Amazing Spider-Man, Monopoly, Resident Evil, Melon Madness, Wheel Of Fortune and Mega Fortune Wheel.
The PartyCasino.com jackpot is currently approaching the $2 million mark. Players can also compete for The Big One and Marvel Hero Jackpot, playing the Marvel super hero themed online slot games.
PartyCasino's most recent game releases include Shaaark! SuperBet, Crocodopolis, Alice's Wonderland, Glamour Puss, Super Cubes, Heist, Palladium Slot and Circus Slot.
PartyGaming CEO Jim Ryan has gone on record advising PartyCasino will soon feature more Hollywood blockbuster themed slots. A few in the know journalists and media agents have been recently tipped off that an all time classic movie adaption will be showcased in the PartyCasino portfolio within 1 month. PartyCasino has the world's most impressive line up of Hollywood themed games, and more are just around the corner.
PartyCasino.com and PartyPoker.com customers can also benefit from rewards and bonuses via PartyPoints and the Palladium Lounge. Be certain to check out the PartyCasino exclusive "Cash Machine" that is being championed as one of the greatest online casino promos ever.
Media Man, Casino News Media and Global Gaming Directory do have a b2b relationship with PartyGaming, as they do with dozens of other companies in the gaming, igaming, media and entertainment industry.
Websites
PartyCasino.com
PartyPoker.com
World Poker Tour Casino
Profiles
PartyCasino.com
PartyPoker.com
World Poker Tour
PartyGaming
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Australian Land Based Casinos: Best In World?, by Greg Tingle - 2nd January 2011
Happy New Year everyone. Starting the new year off right we thought we would revisit the Australian land based casino scene. Last year the Aussie casinos were a huge source of news and gossip for us, and who can forget the world famous Australian casino wars (still raging), with James Packer's Crown Casino VS Tabcorp's Star City still being the main event. Revamps worth close to a million dollars are still a major point as the battle for high roller super whales, dolphins and the entertainment and tourism dollar continues and now security, "biometrics" and government deals are stealing some of the spotlight. Media Man and Gambling911 take you on a journey to the Australian land based casinos, 'Casino Jack' style...
Australia is still home to some of the world's great casinos, hotels and resorts (and pokie palaces).
While the land down under has over a dozen land based casinos, there's only three that both rate highly and grab the majority of headlines on a global stage. Enter James Packer's Crown Casino in Melbourne, Tabcorp's Star City in Sydney, and Jupiters Hotel & Casino on the Gold Coast.
Mind you, Casino Canberra, Cairns' Reef Hotel and Casino and Perth's Burswood Entertainment Complex have been making a lot of noise recently, but its really a battle between the 'big two'.
Media Man and Gambling911 have readjusted our eye in the sky and further looked at the landscape of the Aussie land based casino sector, and let us tell you maties... its a you beaut and fair dinkim!
Readers will be aware that there's quite a "casino war" in the land of kangaroos, koalas and goannas. You would have to be Blind Freddy not to know about the ultra competitive showdown (and hunt for whales and dolphins) between Packer's Crown Casino down south and Tabcorp's Star City in 'Sin City' Sydney.
Crown Casino and Star City are following the global trend, largely driven forward from Las Vegas, Macau and the Philippines, of offering a total entertainment experience... not just gambling... you know, slots, poker, table games and the like. Whales aka high-rollers, have also demanded the changing face of the sector. Don't get us wrong, the gambling aspect remains vital to the business model and to the punters, but for a variety of reasons Australian casino kings have employed a more holistic model. The reasons include being more government friendly, legal eagle elements and complimenting the larger casino, entertainment and lifestyle sector. Crowns' James Packer won last year's Media Man 'Australian Casino Entrepreneur Of The Year' award, and his casino won the Australian land based casino award. Gossip And News: Opening Aussie batsman Phil Hughes has been slammed for attending a function hours before play on Boxing Day. Hughes, who opened the batting at the MCG and was dismissed for just 16, attended the Shane Warne Foundation breakfast at Crown casino along with vice-captain Michael Clarke. "It's one of the most disgraceful things I've ever heard," said fiery former Australian Test star Rodney Hogg. "You've got the opportunity to come back in, you're going to be in front of 80,000 people. "You should get out of bed, have your breakfast and do your normal preparation. "You don't run off to those sorts of mornings. Even though he's young, the fact is it probably makes him a little more apprehensive and a bit more nervous (about the Test match) after going and doing that sort of thing. "It's not a normal morning's preparation for him." Clarke, who is close mates with Warne, was joined by sporting stars Billy Brownless, Aaron Hamill, Mark Taylor and Ian Healy at the breakfast. The two Australian players were interviewed briefly by Warne around 7.30am before they returned to their nearby Quay West hotel.
Some of the ramped up services and offerings as part of the industry development include but are not limited to:
Entertainment complex upgrades (including securing more world class acts, more often, to attract the crowds and keep all clients and business partners happy)
Hotel suite refurbishments
Private gambling room upgrades for high rolling VIP's
Sports bar upgrades
Enhanced security - technology and more staff
Gulf Stream Jets aka Lear Jets for international high rollers in a hurry and who demand and casino afford the best
Aussie Casino News Bytes
Crown Casino: Hosted a number of players from the Australian Cricket Team recently, just as The Ashes were on the way. Packer's midis touch didn't help Clarke's and Ponting's luck on the field unfortunately. Crown Casino will host the world famous 'Aussie Millions' Poker Championship this January, and already a number of online poker rooms are holding satellite qualifiers and the like. Media Man insiders reckon that many folks want another guest or journo of Crown hosted TV Logies awards to be fired for misconduct again this year, for Twitting journos and comedians out there, be careful you hear us now. Crown Casino is continuing to upgrade their website which is a very smart move in the currently environment. Management in regular contact with sister casinos, City of Dreams Macau and Altira Macau. 100s more staff to be employed, some of which under the GenerationOne employment initiative, dedicated to helping get Indigenous Australians back into the workforce. Up to $500,000 being spent on major upgrades in the next few years.
Crown Casino Entertainment:
Burlesque Royale
28 January 2011
Choirboys – Never Gonna Die 30th Anniversary Tour
29 January 2011
Making their return this summer for what will be the sure-fire summer tour of 2011
Freddie Mercury - Let Me Entertain You
4 - 5 February 2011
It's Queen, sort of!
I Can’t Believe it’s not COUNTDOWN, It’s a Musical Comedy
10 – 19 February 2011
Don’t miss a night of reminiscing, laughter, music, big hair and shameless parodies.
Star City: Has expanded their budget by another $100,000 or so. Total budget for upgrade is now very close to $1 million dollars! Is ordering a few more Lear Jets to help better compete with Crown Casino. Upgraded website. Did get Oprah Winfrey, Bob Geldof and Bon Jovi late last year, so they are doing something right, or maybe just have friends in high places. World class sports bar and entertainment amenities. They are right on side with the NSW Labor government, so give the devils their due. Star City was awards last year's runner Media Man 'Australian Land Based Casino' award. Gossip And News: A beer loving poker player used his "poker face" to fool Star City Casino staff into serving him 42 beers in a single 17-hour sitting. The unnamed gambler put in a marathon innings, downing five beers every two hours. Three waiters were happy to oblige the cashed-up player with as many drinks as he requested and failed to keep track of the seriously high level of alcohol the man was ingesting as he sat at the same card table in the main gaming floor from 2.30am. It was not until the card table closed at 7am that Star City staff realised the man was wildly intoxicated. "He didn't appear to be steady on his feet. He was dozing off at the table and the manager had to help him collect his chips so he could cash them in," bar waiter Helen Mikhael-Ghanime, who was sacked for her role in serving the man 15 beers in seven hours, said. The casino will be careful to to make the same mistake again. Generally not good for PR and this sort of thing attracts heavy fines. The casino authority said the $10,000 fine had been reduced because of Star City's otherwise good record in dealing with drunken gamblers. It evicted 6717 intoxicated patrons in 2008. "[The authority] considers this matter to be a serious breach of Star City's responsible service of alcohol obligations," the authority said to Star City. "In determining the pecuniary penalty, due consideration was given to Star City's record in relation to the responsible service of alcohol and the action taken to prevent similar incidents in the future."
Entertainment At Star City:
DOCTOR ZHIVAGO
Don't miss this explosive new musical romance at the Lyric Theatre from 11 February 2011.
MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER
A new theatrical event featuring Andrew Lloyd Webber's most timeless songs performed by the current stars of Australian musical theatre.
Jupiters Gold Coast: Upgraded their poker room to the tune of a few hundred thousand dollars. Is trying to live down the story that they are Australia's 'most dangerous casino', and is beefing up security. Jupiters is nearby to the beaches where major surfing competitions take place annually. Dreamworld (Hollywood On The Gold Coast) is only a short drive away from the casino. Upgraded website. Recent management shake up, all the way up to director level. Should be strong year for them.
Burswood Entertainment Complex: Upgraded security. Burswood is known to put on fantastic community fundraisers. American pro wrestling legend Hulk Hogan drew a massive crowd at Burswood late last year for his charity work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Virgin's Richard Branson has also done some impressive fundraising on site. Branson's Virgin Games (not available in Australia) remains keen to expand the gaming globally, and perhaps his face to face meetings with the media and political savvy Aussie Casino king, James Packer, won't go astray. Security has been beefed up yet again and more world class acts continue to get booked.
Casino Canberra: Galaxy Nightclub - Canberra's hottest nightclub opens from 9pm every Saturday with the beats of the 70's and the best of the 80's. Come and hear the soundtrack of our lives. Galaxy has a NO GLASS policy! Is currently pushing to get 200 pokies to help kick business along.
The Reef Hotel Casino: This is like paradise. One of Australia's most beautiful and scenic casinos. Claymore, a hot Celtic band brought in the new year for our friends.
Lasseters Hotel Casino: If your in that neck of the woods checking out Outback nature, you need to step in and play Cleo, and why not stay the night to see if you "get lucky". Then enjoy a breakfast of champions as your journey continues. Oh, a Slots Tournament every Tuesday night You've got to spin to win!
Australian Casino Directory List
New South Wales
Star City Casino (Sydney)
Victoria
Crown Casino (Melbourne)
Queensland
Conrad Treasury Casino (Brisbane)
Jupiters Hotel & Casino (Gold Coast)
Jupiters Townsville Casino (Townsville)
The Reef Hotel Casino (Cairns)
South Australia
Skycity Adelaide (Adelaide)
Western Australia
Burswood Entertainment Complex aka Burswood Casino (Perth)
Tasmania
Wrest Point Hotel Casino (Hobart)
Country Club Casino (Launceston)
Australian Capital Territory
Casino Canberra (Canberra)
Northern Territory
Lasseters Hotel Casino (Alice Springs)
Skycity Darwin (formerly MGM Grand Casino) (Darwin)
Media Man International Profile On Australia
http://www.mediamanint.com/profiles/australia.html
Online Casinos, Online Poker and Sports Betting
Ok readers, we hear you... you also want to know some of the best places to play online (that accept Aussies) if your in or around the Asia Pacific - Australia (including Tassie) and New Zealand, so here it is...
PartyCasino.com
Captain Cooks Casino
Betfair (sports betting only)
PKR.com (mainly poker and some casino and sports betting)
Profiles
Australian Casinos
World Casino Directory
Global Gaming Directory
Casino Travel
Casinos
Australia
Media Man and Gambling911 remind our readers to keep the following in mind:
Take the time to research and learn games before placing down money
Media Man, Casino News Media and Gambling911 are website portals. Not casinos as such, however are recognised as world leading websites that cover the sector and act as central points to games, news, reviews and more
Know the odds, set limits and have fun.
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. Gaming is just one of a dozen sectors covered
*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
Media Man Brand
Media Man Network
Casino News Media
Poker News Media
Global Gaming Directory
Australia is still home to some of the world's great casinos, hotels and resorts (and pokie palaces).
While the land down under has over a dozen land based casinos, there's only three that both rate highly and grab the majority of headlines on a global stage. Enter James Packer's Crown Casino in Melbourne, Tabcorp's Star City in Sydney, and Jupiters Hotel & Casino on the Gold Coast.
Mind you, Casino Canberra, Cairns' Reef Hotel and Casino and Perth's Burswood Entertainment Complex have been making a lot of noise recently, but its really a battle between the 'big two'.
Media Man and Gambling911 have readjusted our eye in the sky and further looked at the landscape of the Aussie land based casino sector, and let us tell you maties... its a you beaut and fair dinkim!
Readers will be aware that there's quite a "casino war" in the land of kangaroos, koalas and goannas. You would have to be Blind Freddy not to know about the ultra competitive showdown (and hunt for whales and dolphins) between Packer's Crown Casino down south and Tabcorp's Star City in 'Sin City' Sydney.
Crown Casino and Star City are following the global trend, largely driven forward from Las Vegas, Macau and the Philippines, of offering a total entertainment experience... not just gambling... you know, slots, poker, table games and the like. Whales aka high-rollers, have also demanded the changing face of the sector. Don't get us wrong, the gambling aspect remains vital to the business model and to the punters, but for a variety of reasons Australian casino kings have employed a more holistic model. The reasons include being more government friendly, legal eagle elements and complimenting the larger casino, entertainment and lifestyle sector. Crowns' James Packer won last year's Media Man 'Australian Casino Entrepreneur Of The Year' award, and his casino won the Australian land based casino award. Gossip And News: Opening Aussie batsman Phil Hughes has been slammed for attending a function hours before play on Boxing Day. Hughes, who opened the batting at the MCG and was dismissed for just 16, attended the Shane Warne Foundation breakfast at Crown casino along with vice-captain Michael Clarke. "It's one of the most disgraceful things I've ever heard," said fiery former Australian Test star Rodney Hogg. "You've got the opportunity to come back in, you're going to be in front of 80,000 people. "You should get out of bed, have your breakfast and do your normal preparation. "You don't run off to those sorts of mornings. Even though he's young, the fact is it probably makes him a little more apprehensive and a bit more nervous (about the Test match) after going and doing that sort of thing. "It's not a normal morning's preparation for him." Clarke, who is close mates with Warne, was joined by sporting stars Billy Brownless, Aaron Hamill, Mark Taylor and Ian Healy at the breakfast. The two Australian players were interviewed briefly by Warne around 7.30am before they returned to their nearby Quay West hotel.
Some of the ramped up services and offerings as part of the industry development include but are not limited to:
Entertainment complex upgrades (including securing more world class acts, more often, to attract the crowds and keep all clients and business partners happy)
Hotel suite refurbishments
Private gambling room upgrades for high rolling VIP's
Sports bar upgrades
Enhanced security - technology and more staff
Gulf Stream Jets aka Lear Jets for international high rollers in a hurry and who demand and casino afford the best
Aussie Casino News Bytes
Crown Casino: Hosted a number of players from the Australian Cricket Team recently, just as The Ashes were on the way. Packer's midis touch didn't help Clarke's and Ponting's luck on the field unfortunately. Crown Casino will host the world famous 'Aussie Millions' Poker Championship this January, and already a number of online poker rooms are holding satellite qualifiers and the like. Media Man insiders reckon that many folks want another guest or journo of Crown hosted TV Logies awards to be fired for misconduct again this year, for Twitting journos and comedians out there, be careful you hear us now. Crown Casino is continuing to upgrade their website which is a very smart move in the currently environment. Management in regular contact with sister casinos, City of Dreams Macau and Altira Macau. 100s more staff to be employed, some of which under the GenerationOne employment initiative, dedicated to helping get Indigenous Australians back into the workforce. Up to $500,000 being spent on major upgrades in the next few years.
Crown Casino Entertainment:
Burlesque Royale
28 January 2011
Choirboys – Never Gonna Die 30th Anniversary Tour
29 January 2011
Making their return this summer for what will be the sure-fire summer tour of 2011
Freddie Mercury - Let Me Entertain You
4 - 5 February 2011
It's Queen, sort of!
I Can’t Believe it’s not COUNTDOWN, It’s a Musical Comedy
10 – 19 February 2011
Don’t miss a night of reminiscing, laughter, music, big hair and shameless parodies.
Star City: Has expanded their budget by another $100,000 or so. Total budget for upgrade is now very close to $1 million dollars! Is ordering a few more Lear Jets to help better compete with Crown Casino. Upgraded website. Did get Oprah Winfrey, Bob Geldof and Bon Jovi late last year, so they are doing something right, or maybe just have friends in high places. World class sports bar and entertainment amenities. They are right on side with the NSW Labor government, so give the devils their due. Star City was awards last year's runner Media Man 'Australian Land Based Casino' award. Gossip And News: A beer loving poker player used his "poker face" to fool Star City Casino staff into serving him 42 beers in a single 17-hour sitting. The unnamed gambler put in a marathon innings, downing five beers every two hours. Three waiters were happy to oblige the cashed-up player with as many drinks as he requested and failed to keep track of the seriously high level of alcohol the man was ingesting as he sat at the same card table in the main gaming floor from 2.30am. It was not until the card table closed at 7am that Star City staff realised the man was wildly intoxicated. "He didn't appear to be steady on his feet. He was dozing off at the table and the manager had to help him collect his chips so he could cash them in," bar waiter Helen Mikhael-Ghanime, who was sacked for her role in serving the man 15 beers in seven hours, said. The casino will be careful to to make the same mistake again. Generally not good for PR and this sort of thing attracts heavy fines. The casino authority said the $10,000 fine had been reduced because of Star City's otherwise good record in dealing with drunken gamblers. It evicted 6717 intoxicated patrons in 2008. "[The authority] considers this matter to be a serious breach of Star City's responsible service of alcohol obligations," the authority said to Star City. "In determining the pecuniary penalty, due consideration was given to Star City's record in relation to the responsible service of alcohol and the action taken to prevent similar incidents in the future."
Entertainment At Star City:
DOCTOR ZHIVAGO
Don't miss this explosive new musical romance at the Lyric Theatre from 11 February 2011.
MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER
A new theatrical event featuring Andrew Lloyd Webber's most timeless songs performed by the current stars of Australian musical theatre.
Jupiters Gold Coast: Upgraded their poker room to the tune of a few hundred thousand dollars. Is trying to live down the story that they are Australia's 'most dangerous casino', and is beefing up security. Jupiters is nearby to the beaches where major surfing competitions take place annually. Dreamworld (Hollywood On The Gold Coast) is only a short drive away from the casino. Upgraded website. Recent management shake up, all the way up to director level. Should be strong year for them.
Burswood Entertainment Complex: Upgraded security. Burswood is known to put on fantastic community fundraisers. American pro wrestling legend Hulk Hogan drew a massive crowd at Burswood late last year for his charity work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Virgin's Richard Branson has also done some impressive fundraising on site. Branson's Virgin Games (not available in Australia) remains keen to expand the gaming globally, and perhaps his face to face meetings with the media and political savvy Aussie Casino king, James Packer, won't go astray. Security has been beefed up yet again and more world class acts continue to get booked.
Casino Canberra: Galaxy Nightclub - Canberra's hottest nightclub opens from 9pm every Saturday with the beats of the 70's and the best of the 80's. Come and hear the soundtrack of our lives. Galaxy has a NO GLASS policy! Is currently pushing to get 200 pokies to help kick business along.
The Reef Hotel Casino: This is like paradise. One of Australia's most beautiful and scenic casinos. Claymore, a hot Celtic band brought in the new year for our friends.
Lasseters Hotel Casino: If your in that neck of the woods checking out Outback nature, you need to step in and play Cleo, and why not stay the night to see if you "get lucky". Then enjoy a breakfast of champions as your journey continues. Oh, a Slots Tournament every Tuesday night You've got to spin to win!
Australian Casino Directory List
New South Wales
Star City Casino (Sydney)
Victoria
Crown Casino (Melbourne)
Queensland
Conrad Treasury Casino (Brisbane)
Jupiters Hotel & Casino (Gold Coast)
Jupiters Townsville Casino (Townsville)
The Reef Hotel Casino (Cairns)
South Australia
Skycity Adelaide (Adelaide)
Western Australia
Burswood Entertainment Complex aka Burswood Casino (Perth)
Tasmania
Wrest Point Hotel Casino (Hobart)
Country Club Casino (Launceston)
Australian Capital Territory
Casino Canberra (Canberra)
Northern Territory
Lasseters Hotel Casino (Alice Springs)
Skycity Darwin (formerly MGM Grand Casino) (Darwin)
Media Man International Profile On Australia
http://www.mediamanint.com/profiles/australia.html
Online Casinos, Online Poker and Sports Betting
Ok readers, we hear you... you also want to know some of the best places to play online (that accept Aussies) if your in or around the Asia Pacific - Australia (including Tassie) and New Zealand, so here it is...
PartyCasino.com
Captain Cooks Casino
Betfair (sports betting only)
PKR.com (mainly poker and some casino and sports betting)
Profiles
Australian Casinos
World Casino Directory
Global Gaming Directory
Casino Travel
Casinos
Australia
Media Man and Gambling911 remind our readers to keep the following in mind:
Take the time to research and learn games before placing down money
Media Man, Casino News Media and Gambling911 are website portals. Not casinos as such, however are recognised as world leading websites that cover the sector and act as central points to games, news, reviews and more
Know the odds, set limits and have fun.
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. Gaming is just one of a dozen sectors covered
*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
Media Man Brand
Media Man Network
Casino News Media
Poker News Media
Global Gaming Directory
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