Casinos Are Crucial For Tourism, Says Packer

Australian businessman claims Melbourne and Perth's casino resorts are the best in the country.

Australian businessman James Packer has said that casino resorts play an important role in attracting visitors to the country.

The 42-year-old billionaire is chairman of entertainment group Crown, which operates two of Australia's largest gaming complexes in Melbourne and Perth.

Responding to recent criticism of the casino industry, Mr Packer told the Australia Associated Press that the Crown Casino in Melbourne and Perth's Burswood Entertainment Complex function as "national tourism assets".

He added: "Integrated casino complexes or resorts are globally recognised as being critical to national tourism infrastructure."

Mr Packer also claimed that the two venues are currently "the only two truly world-class casino resorts in Australia".

Earlier this month, he acquired another three per cent of shares in Crown to take his stake in the firm above 40 per cent.

According to Australian regulations, investors with more than 20 per cent ownership of a company can increase their holding by three per cent every six months without triggering a full takeover.

As well as its two Australian casinos, Crown is involved with gambling venues in Macau, North America and Europe.