News leaks raise suspicion
Goldenlady Consortium’s bid for a casino license in Cyprus did not make it to the final round. Now the group says leaks to the press identifying the three remaining contenders “casts a shadow on the credibility of the process.”
It has been widely reported that the short list include an alliance of Hard Rock and Melco International; Philippine operator Bloomberry; and Cambodia’s NagaCorp.
According to the website CalvinAyre.com, lawmakers in the Greek-controlled part of the island have approved new casino regulations, which clears the way for the government to start the vetting process. Goldenlady wants to know why it is not on the list, as it was prepared to invest €1.15 billion (US$) on its resort, three to four times the investments pledge by the preferred bidders.
Apparently, some say the consortium—reportedly made up of French operator Partouche; the Trump Organization, run by U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump; and Navegante Gaming & Hospitality—does not have sufficient backing for the project.
According to the Cyprus-Mail, the Hard Rock/Melco team wants to site its resort in Limassol, while Bloomberry Resorts is looking at Paphos and Nagacorp prefers Lamarca. And local newspaper Haravgi claims one of the three bidders has “backing from high up in the government,” suggesting that the fix is in for Hard Rock/Melco, because President Nicos Anastasiades lives in Limassol.
