At its peak, Crown Resorts looked like it might become the Southern Hemisphere’s answer to Las Vegas Sands, Beijing granted Crown a coveted Macau gaming license to build a glittering empire stretching from Macau to Melbourne, backed by media power & Asia’s growing appetite for luxury gambling.
🎭 The Illusion of a Global Vision
James Packer wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. But while Kerry built a global media and publishing empire from the ground up, James floundered in his attempt to transcend Australia’s borders.
- His foray into Hollywood (via RatPac Entertainment) was more celebrity hobby than strategy.
- His grand plans in Macau and Las Vegas were eventually sold down or collapsed, culminating in a strategic retreat back to Australia.
- This withdrawal undermined Crown’s global appeal, the very reason Chinese backers had bought in.
📺 Overestimating the Power of Channel Nine
James Packer assumed that owning Channel Nine, a flagship of Australian mainstream media, granted political sway. That was a critical misunderstanding.
- Channel Nine exists primarily to sell advertising, not to influence regulatory frameworks or economic policy.
- Real political influence in Australia flows through think tanks (ASPI, CIS), legacy print outlets (Murdoch’s News Corp), and elite business publications like the AFR. James Packer never built a media weapon only a media mirror.
Final Take
🔻 James Packer wanted to be global but never built globally.
🔻 He held media, but misunderstood power.
🔻 He inherited an empire, but lacked the discipline to protect it.
