While there are no casinos in Israel, that might change in the near future, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu works to make Israeli casino gaming a reality.
Talk of building a casino in Israel has been ongoing for decades, and Las Vegas Sands Chairman and Principal Shareholder Sheldon Adelson in the 1990s tried to build one in Israel, before the nation’s leaders put an end to the idea.
But, with Netanyahu supporting a casino that would serve only tourists and would be off-limits to Israeli citizens, aside from those who work there, talk of a new casino project is heating up once again.
Netanyahu says Adelson has no interest in pursuing any more casino projects in Israel, but many Israeli leaders at least support the concept of a new casino built in Eilat that would generate gaming revenue from tourists.
Netanyahu says building a casino in Eilat would have the dual positive effects of improving the local economy in Eilat, while also helping to incorporate it more into the Israeli economy.
Casino gaming remains illegal in Israel, but Eilat is a popular port destination for Israelis and others who, purchase passage aboard gambling cruises that take them out into international waters, where they legally can gamble.
Religious orthodox members of Israel’s Parliament and government oppose all legalized gaming, but Netanyahu and other casino supporters say a casino in Eilat would save the city from economic ruin, while also creating thousands of new jobs for local residents.
Although it is a popular port destination, Eilat has suffered a reduction in tourism numbers in recent years, and Israeli officials say off-shore gaming removed up to $385 million from the nation’s economy over the past five years.
While initial plans for an Eilat casino would require it to provide gaming only for foreign visitors, some Israeli lawmakers and regulators say they favor allowing Israeli citizens to also gamble at the casino.
Allowing Israeli citizens to gamble at the casino would help to keep gaming dollars inside the nation, instead of shipping them out to international waters on questionable gambling cruises, supporters say.
