War between James Packer and Rival Echo Entertainment Flares Up Again

Due to allegations that Packer’s $2 billion casino resort plan in Barangaroo is legally awry, conflict sparks anew between Crown Resorts and Echo Entertainment.

A new clash between rivals in gambling news: Crown Resorts and Echo Entertainment dispute over a Sydney casino license. Echo Entertainment recently learnt that James Packer’s plan to open a casino resort for VIPs only (a project worth $2 billion,) could be denounced in court. It seems like Echo Entertainment has, in fact, taken this chance to stall the development project.

Echo Entertainment’s move is one that will provide an opportunity to the public to express their opinion about the Barangaroo plan to pull up a casino in an elite area on the ocean shore. So far, 30 requests to review the project have been received by the Department of Planning and Environment. The concern is the number of modifications made to the original plans and their impact on he environment.

Crown Resorts considers this a move to conserve monopoly

The CEO of Crown Resorts, Rowen Craigie asserted that Echo Entertainment’s maneuver has nothing to do with Australian gambling laws whatsoever. "I consider this to be a blatant misuse of the planning process by The Star Casino to try and protect their existing monopoly and delay much needed competition into Sydney's VIP gaming market," he said to Financial Review.