Crown's Packer in talks with News, Gambling - iGaming Aussie connection Media Man Australia

Crown's Packer talks with News, Gambling - iGaming Aussie connection, by Greg Tingle - 24th September 2009

The Australian's Rebecca Urban penned a ripper story on James Packer's meeting with News Limited's John Hartigan. For our money, the line that made the piece, coming from "Our James" was "Listen mate, I'm here for a business meeting,". Yes folks, not even the red dust could stop our home grown Aussie gambling and media tycoon. Given the venue of choice being Rupert Murdoch's main business den, just maybe Mr Packer is taking more of a liking to news media these days, in more ways that one. ConsMedia remains a co owner of Foxtel, saddled by Telstra and News. Meantime, Packer's Crown Macau is doing great
business, as Macau's politicians wrestle with casino commissions. Macau will limit the commissions paid to junket operators to 1.25 percent of the betting chips purchased by high rollers, helping cut casino operators’ costs. In the meantime Crown Casino remains open to b2b igaming and gaming business opportunities, with firms such as PartyGaming's PartyPoker, Noble Poker and Euro Partner's Titan Casino offering satellites to play poker at Crown. iGaming Business - Affiliate Media and a number of other igaming entities remain keen to do business with Crown Casino, and information is leaking about an upcoming igaming conference to be held in Australia in the coming months, following on from last years CAP Down Under. In the meantime, Hulk Hogan, pro wrestling legend and business tycoon, just returned to the United States, having spent a week of doing ultra impressive promos and appearance in Australia to plug his Hulkamania Let The Battle Begin tour, which kicks off in late November. Hogan (and his named opponent, "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair), also have a number of gaming and igaming business interests. Hogan has a Hulkamania Experience pokie found in some U.S casinos and Mr Flair is currently the face of the NC Education Lottery, with his unmissable "Woooooo!" scratch cards. A media man or two reckon a meeting may be order soon for Hogan, Flair and Packer, and PartyGaming and NextGen Gaming may be a logical choice of business partner for igaming ventures. NextGen Gaming has developed an Andre The Giant online slot game. Incidentally, the late, great, Kerry Packer was rumoured to has sat ringside for at least one major American wrestling tour that occurred in Australia in circa 2002. Mr Packer and co have a wealth of opportunities to explore. It's hard to get rid of the wrestling and media bug, Hulkamania, Goanna or not. Casino moguls everywhere are looking forward to blockbuster movie to be, 'Casino Jack', but a few Australian politicians, namely one or two Labor Party MP's, wouldn't mind seeing the movie never be screened on Australia soil. A certainly Australian film producer is very interested to do is own 'Casino Jack' style movie, but showcasing Australia's links between casinos and politicians. Go Aussie, go. Packer, Branson, Ho, Murdoch, Ayre, Stokes, Ryan... gentlemen, you're throw of the dice.

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