The tiny landlocked principality of Andorra will name the operator of its first brick and mortar casino before July. It is currently going over 13 bids from nine operators, including the Genting Group and Spain-based Cirsa, both of which offered €140-million bids.
Other, smaller bidders include French-based Partouche, the Andorran group Cierco, and Gauselmann Group’s Merkur.
The winner will be given a license to build and operate a casino resort for a maximum of 20 years. It will require a minimum investment of €10 million.
The principality adopted gaming laws in 2016.
Genting proposed its casino resort through a UK subsidiary. Its proposal would be two-story, and including gaming, food and beverage and a spa. Its proposal could create 1,000 permanent jobs and 600 construction jobs. It would be partnering with a local businessman, Marc Giebels van Bekestein, Arc Resorts President Mark Vlassopulos, and British investor David Gray, although it would have 70 percent of the venture.
Cirsa reported submitted two bids, both for a casino resort, but with different locations. Its bid was in partnership with the French gaming operator Groupe Tranchant. The larger of the two proposals would be a mixed-use property with a 2,500 square meter casino in three floors, plus bars dining, conference center, and entertainment center.
Andorra is a tiny country, the sixth smallest in the world, and lies between Spain and France. It is known for its skiing, as a tax haven and duty-free shipping.
