In December, Crown Ltd., the Australian gaming company owned by legendary billionaire James Packer, purchased Cannery Casino Resorts (consisting of Cannery up in North Las Vegas, Rampart in Summerlin, and Nevada Palace in Henderson, which recently closed to undergo a transformation into Eastside Cannery) for $1.8 billion.

But did you know Crown has spread out its investments around Las Vegas?

They own an interest in the holding company for the former Wet ‘n Wild location on 27 acres south of Sahara. This was the space where they are or were expected to erect a $5 billion casino called Crown Las Vegas, hoped to be twice as tall as Stratosphere before the FAA ruled against and reduced to “only” 1,064 feet — still taller than any building in the U.S.

Crown has an interest in the $2.8 billion Fontainebleau hotel-casino, nestled between Riviera and the Crown Las Vegas land parcel.

And since Harrah’s and Station Casinos went private, Crown took interest in them as well… literally. They bought a $172 million stake (2.5 percent) in Harrah’s and $241 million stake (4.9 percent) in Station.

They say the purchases were for investment purposes only.

But what’s really going on?

With both private, no one but the inner sanctum will sink ships. But we suspect world domination. Or at least world casino domination.

Harrah’s (which some gamblers refer as the Evil Empire) already has a foothold on the majority of casinos in the U.S… no doubt with their mouth watering at the rapid growth of Macau. It can’t be easy sitting idly by while competitors MGM Mirage, Wynn, and Sands (which owns Venetian) present their newly gift-wrapped casinos to the Asian market.

Teaming with Crown would assist with that, while also allowing Crown to put its stamp on the United States gaming market.

Because why stop at a couple of local casinos?

‘Course, that’s all speculation.