The Hong Kong billionaires behind Australia's largest casino proposal, Aquis, believe Queensland's Gold Coast could become a destination for big-spending overseas gamblers.
It comes as the Fung family secured the exclusive negotiation rights to purchase the five-star Sheraton Mirage resort, which has been on the market since last year.
It is understood the Fungs will pay about $160 million for the site, adding to a recent $120 million Gold Coast property spending spree.
The head of Aquis Entertainment's Australian operations, Justin Fung, said a casino at the Sheraton was being considered.
"There are a lot of different options available to us, one of which may include a casino," Mr Fung said.
"We have a lot of confidence in international tourism coming to Queensland...The Gold Coast is obviously a great representation of that and has an international brand name, it has tourism infrastructure already, we have seen the announcement of direct international flights from China. There's been a lot of foreign investment coming into the city."
The Gold Coast already has the Jupiters casino, and plans for a second casino in the area were in the works until the Queensland Government halted an integrated resort and cruise ship terminal at Wavebreak Island.
Any new casino would require licence approval from Queensland's state government.
However, Mr Fung was confident the Gold Coast could sustain a second casino.
"When we talk about the capacity for a second casino it isn't entirely based on local population, it's dependent on the growth of the tourism sector," he said.
In recent months Aquis Entertainment has spent $50 million on a Robina development site, $55 million Surfers Paradise apartment site, $15.8 million on Nathan Tinkler's Patinack Farms and $7 million on a Gold Coast penthouse.
Negotiations are continuing with the Queensland state government to secure a licence for the $8 billion Aquis casino and resort in Cairns, which could open in 2020.
The elaborate Macau-style resort will seek to attract international players with deep pockets ahead of local punters.
Aquis has received environmental approvals and Mr Fung said negotiations with the Labor government was progressing well.
"We're feeling very confident," he said.
"I've found that they've been very forward-thinking, they've been cooperative, they've been fair but firm. We're very confident about our future in Queensland."
Aquis purchased Casino Canberra last year for $6 million and is planning a major facelift.
