Crown chairman James Packer slams Casino wars rival Echo Entertainment's Brisbane and Gold Coast casinos James Packer said Echo Entertainment, which is behind Brisbane's Treasury Casino, was doing a terrible job in Queensland. CROWN chairman James Packer used his former network to slam his Casino wars rival Echo Entertainment on national television yesterday calling the current Brisbane and Gold Coast casinos "a disgrace." Mr Packer told Channel 9 that Echo, which operates casinos in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Townsville, was doing a terrible job in Queensland and he challenged Premier Campbell Newman on the issue of competition. "The quality of the properties in Surfers Paradise and Brisbane are a disgrace," Mr Packer said. It will be interesting to see where Premier Newman ends up on the ideological question of competition. Echo, in an advertising and website campaign spruiking its push to develop a new casino and integrated resort around George St, concedes: ``it's time to expand our horizons and relocate," almost 20 years after its Treasury Casino opened. As the battle to build Brisbane's next casino heats up in the wake of Mr Packer's weekend pitch and criticism of rival Echo, leading figures in the city have offered their support to a new Brisbane facility. Lord Mayor Graham Quirk hedged his bets on a winner but acknowledged the need for "high quality attractions" to ``ensure people stay and play." "So I'm supportive of a world-class casino that will bring high-roller investors to Brisbane," he said. Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Daniel Gschwind, said the State Government-led revamp of the George St precinct was an ideal opportunity for an "expanded entertainment facility." "We would certainly like to see an opportunity that is supported by the private sector to have an additional entertainment precinct, with retail and other entertainment opportunities, with possibly a hotel facility," he said. I think it would revitalise that particular area which I think is a little bit dull and uneventful at the moment. Entertainment king Harvey Lister said Brisbane desperately needed more hotels and a well positioned integrated resort should be welcomed. "I do not think there is any doubt we need more hotels in Brisbane," Mr Lister, the chief executive of AEG Ogden said from Malaysia yesterday. "It is a big challenge for Brisbane especially when we are competing internationally for conferences," he said. Mr Lister said Brisbane needed 500 to 1000-room hotels, and not just at the top end, but funding was a challenge.