Melco Resorts & Entertainment will soon open a satellite casino in Nicosia. Another satellite is expected to open in 2019 at Larnaca International Airport on the southern coast of Cyprus.
Along with its permanent casino, now being developed in the city of Limassol, the Hong Kong-listed company will open a total of four satellite gaming halls in the Greek-controlled republic. According to the Cyprus Mail, the airport casino will have 50 slot machines but no gaming tables and be open around the clock.
Melco owns 75 percent of the project, which is being built by a consortium that also includes local partner Cyprus Phassouri (Zakaki). The partners won an exclusive casino license by the Greek-controlled island republic late last year. The permanent facility is scheduled to open in 2021; the flagship property and the satellites represent a total investment of $660 million.
A temporary casino in Limassol opened on June 28 with 33 gaming tables, 242 slot machines, a VIP gaming area, a restaurant and two bars. More than 34,000 people from 41 countries visited in the first three weeks of operation. Most of them were from Cyprus, followed by visitors from Greece, Israel, Romania, Russia and the United Kingdom.
“So far, the number of visitors has exceeded our expectations and we are very gratified with the response from our guests,” said Craig Ballantyne, property president of City of Dreams Mediterranean and Cyprus Casinos. “We believe the accelerating attendance rate and strong performance of new members joining the Cyprus Casinos C2 Rewards Club is driven by the strong, positive word of mouth and self-discovery by the market.”
City of Dreams Mediterranean is expected to become Europe’s largest casino resort and should draw a fair share of guest from Asia, said Lawrence Ho, Melco chairman and CEO.
“Asian tourists will be able to recognize our brand and as time develops they could be attracted to Cyprus,” said Ho. “Melco as a company attracts sophisticated customers, middle- and upper-class customers.”
Melco operates several casino complexes in Macau and one in Manila, and will vie for one of Japan’s first integrated resort licenses.
