Packer, Williams Buy Into Perth's Burswood Casino, Paper Says

(Bloomberg) -- Australia's richest man Kerry Packer and Crown casino founder Lloyd Williams have acquired almost 10 percent of Western Australia's Burswood casino, the Australian newspaper reported.
Williams has held less than 5 percent for some time, though the 5 percent stake by Packer's Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd. may accelerate discussions between Burswood and the Western Australian state government concerning the tax rate on its premium players or ``high rollers'', the newspaper said, without citing sources.
Burswood's ``high roller'' tax rate is 15 percent, in contrast to the 10 percent rate for rivals such as Jupiters Ltd., Crown casino and Tabcorp Holdings Ltd.'s Star City in Sydney, the newspaper reported. Crown casino in Melbourne is the nation's largest and is owned by PBL.
Until the opening of Sydney and Melbourne's casinos, Burswood was Australia's leading casino in terms of the high- roller market, the newspaper said.
(The Australian 5-29 p.1,17)