stacia Palaszczuk has told local media that she does not want Australia's Gold Coast to become a casino city. The Premier's comments came a day after Nevada-based gaming giant Caesars Entertainment announced talks with ASF Consortium over a A$3bn Integrated Resort (IR) in the city.

However, Queensland’s top official went on to explain that the city can only license one casino operation, a privilege already granted to ASF's Chinese-backed group of investors.

According to the Gold Coast Bulletin, Palaszczuk told reporters: “There’s only so many casinos we can have on the Gold Coast – I don’t think we need to have this a casino city.”

“The Gold Coast has so much to offer. There’s only one casino license available on the Coast at the moment and our government is going through due process in relation to ASF,” she added.

ASF Consortium was selected as the preferred bidder for the construction of a A$3bn integrated resort in Gold Coast’s Southport Spit, and Caesars was among the interested operators, ASF claimed.

The project however, has yet to begin construction, as ASF awaits the results of a public consultation that took place in April.

The Gold Coast region currently homes just one operational casino – The Star Gold Coast, formerly known as Jupiters. The property is undergoing a A$1bn renovation.