What consortiums are being told will be the right mix of pokies and rooms for second casino

As more talks emerge over the Gold Coast’s controversial second casino, insiders reveal just how much space pokies will be allowed to take up in the planned global tourism hub.

LESS than a third of the space in the proposed second casino for the Gold Coast will be used for gaming machines.

Casino insiders circling as the government considers a second licence for the Glitter Strip are acutely aware of the poker machine limits being placed on the planned global tourism hub (GTH).

“The casino will only be 30 per cent of the floor space. We know that is the case,” a casino insider said.

LABOR ‘DIVIDED’ OVER SECOND CASINO

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate and Tourism Kate Jones — big supporters of a global tourism hub. Picture: Jerad Williams

“That’s what they’ve (the government) been advocating (privately) since June. It’s all based on the new Hard Rock casino development in Spain.”

The government is not wanting to replicate that development but only give casino consortiums an idea of its position on gaming.

Another casino source confirmed the government’s big picture, which includes a resort containing about 2500 rooms, all three-and-a-half star below The Star’s new stock and designed for short three day stays, is focused on big entertainment and providing a concert stadium.

THE STAR GROUP THREAT: ‘NO SECOND CASINO FOR COAST’

Protesters gather in Carey Park. Picture: Tertius Pickard.

“That’s absolutely true (about the 30 per cent),” the source said. “Also it has to be with the promise of no new pokies. Just a reutilisation of existing licences.”

The Spanish resort has approval for 1200 slot machines and 100 gaming tables, and that quota could be met on the Coast with more than 1450 poker machine licences in southeast Queensland yet to be activated.

But as it weighs up going to expressions of interests, the government will face another protest

from Southport residents wanting to protect public land at Carey Park fronting the Southport Broadwater.

SHORT TERM GAIN, LONG TERM PAIN WITH SECOND CASINO

Eddy Sarroff (far right) talking to Southport residents about their protest against a second Gold Coast casino.

Former city councillor Eddy Sarroff said residents were furious with the “mixed messages” from council after Mayor Tom Tate supported Tourism Minister Kate Jones’ push for a second casino.

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Cr Tate had told the Bulletin: “I would be the first to rule out any design that was a ‘pokies den’. Modern, world-class tourism hubs are all about the entertainment — and their revenue streams show the majority of expenditure at a venue like this is on food, accommodation, retail and entertainment.

“My message to the vocal minority running around with their placards is this — you may have a job now, or be happily retired, but think about the jobs needed for a city growing as fast as ours, especially the next generation of Gold Coasters.”

Mr Sarroff this week met with residents who are concerned about council’s backflip after it withdrew its support for the GTH at Carey Park in October 2017.

“There are 11 sites under consideration for the GTH and the only site that the Mayor has so far promoted is the Carey Park site, so we ask the Mayor to stick to the facts and publicly announce the other 10 secret sites,” Mr Sarroff said.

Cr Tate was shifting the focus away from the sale of public land to suggesting a leasehold arrangement could be arranged believing the wider community would come on board, he said.

“The fact is once a commercial enterprise is set on public land under a leasehold with peppercorn rent which is the precedent already set, our land is gone forever and that is no different from selling the land,” Mr Sarroff said.