Now there is the potential for a casino resort to be built in the north eastern Australian state of Queensland, with that state’s Government currently in the process of reviewing a proposal for the project. The proposal was put forward by billionaire Hong Kong businessman Tony Fung, who has been seeking to establish a resort in the country for quite some time.

It is believed the resort – should it get the go ahead – will include nine luxury hotels, a sports stadium, numerous shopping outlets and a casino. It would situated in the northern city of Cairns, which sits next to the famed Great Barrier Reef.

The Government of Queensland has given Mr Fung a streamlined approval process for his proposal, which gives the project a better chance of going  ahead. Should the project be approved, construction of the casino resort could be completed as early as 2018.

The plan is a smart one by Mr Fung, as the resort would be the only one of its stature in that part of Australia. Given that, along with the tycoon’s status in the Southeast Asian region, the potential for a boost in gaming in the state is major.

As for poker, the proposed resort would be a great location for high profile professional poker events in the future. Its location near the Great Barrier Reef already makes it an attractive option for players and tourists alike, and the city of Cairns is a relatively short flight from larger cities like Brisbane and Sydney.

That puts Cairns and the proposed resort in a perfect position to become the Australian poker equivalent of Queenstown in New Zealand and Cebu in the Philippines. That is, a poker tournament hotspot that is attractive mostly as a result of it being a touristic and resort style area.

It is believed the resort, which would be known as the Aquis Great Barrier Reef Resort, would create around 19,000 jobs during and after its construction.