Macau Business Daily – Veteran Macau gaming industry executive Greg Hawkins has been appointed managing director of The Star casino resort in Sydney, its operator Echo Entertainment Group Ltd recently confirmed. Hawkins is expected to take up the role in September, after getting necessary regulatory approvals, the company said yesterday, according to Australian media reports. He replaces Frederic Luvisutto, who resigned in December to pursue new career opportunities. “Having managed both a premium VIP hotel and casino and a large-scale integrated resort in Macau, Greg also brings experience in the Asian VIP and premium mass market where we see further…

Bloomberg – Echo Entertainment Group Ltd. (EGP), facing a challenge to its exclusive Sydney casino license from billionaire James Packer’s Crown Ltd., wants a bigger site in Queensland’s state capital to target Asian gamblers. Echo’s existing casinos in the state, in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Townsville, are too small to attract overseas tourists, Chief Executive Officer John Redmond said in a phone interview yesterday. Echo is in talks with Queensland’s government about the Brisbane relocation, and the plan is a key priority for the year to June, it said in a presentation. Both Packer and Redmond are banking on…

Gold Cost – Gold Coast City councillors today voted to continue their support for a cruise ship terminal and possible casino development despite protests from many residents. But recent confidential reports on the Broadwater made public in Gold Coast Bulletin reports and the protest from residents about hidden scientific studies appears to have caused division among councillors on the project. Councillors at this afternoon’s full council meeting were supposed to reaffirm “support of the State’s casino opportunity as part of an integrated tourism development that includes a cruise ship terminal”. A Bulletin report earlier today publicised the vote after southern-based…