The millionaire owner of Tasmania’s Museum of Old and New Art (Mona), David Walsh, wants visitors to take a gamble. Literally.
Walsh, who made his wealth at card tables, hopes to open a high-stakes mini casino at the museum on the outskirts of Hobart and has begun talking to stakeholders.
“I would be very happy indeed to have a little high-roller, tourist-only, no-pokie casino to be part of the Mona package,” Walsh has told the Mercury newspaper.
He would call it Monaco.
Walsh envisages no more than 12 gambling tables for wealthy international art lovers who would get a kick out of playing blackjack in highbrow surroundings.
Since Mona opened in 2011 it has built a global reputation and boosted the Tasmanian tourism sector.
Walsh said the casino would help underpin the museum’s finances.
Tasmania has two casinos operated by the Federal Group, which has an exclusive state licence.
Walsh does not believe his proposal would impact on current casino operations but he will need to get state government approval to go ahead with his plan.