'White elephant' fears for Crown Sydney casino as China warns citizens not to travel to Australia


The Chinese government directive urging its citizens not to travel to Australia threatens to render a still under construction $2.2bn casino complex on Sydney harbour a “white elephant”, according to industry experts who say the project can no longer rely on income from high-roller gamblers from China who were central to its business model.

Gambling academics and city planners have all expressed concern over the future of Crown’s Sydney casino at Barangaroo as a result of the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s warning to Chinese residents “to enhance their safety awareness and do not travel to Australia” issued last week, citing a spike in racism during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jun/11/white-elephant-fears-for-crown-sydney-casino-as-china-warns-citizens-not-to-travel-to-australia

An aerial view of yet-be-completed Crown Sydney Casino at Barangaroo