The government of Russia’s Primorsky Territory has confirmed that the first phase of the new Shambala Casino will open in the Primorye gaming zone “this summer.” It is only the second such venture in the market, located near Vladivostok on the coast of the Black Sea, joining Tigre de Cristal, which opened in December 2015.
The new property is owned and operated by Shambala CJSC, which opened its first Russian casino in Krasnodar in 2004. On completion, the US$111.5 million project will include the 5,200-square-meter (56,000-square-foot) casino, a 270-room, five-star hotel, a spa and a conference hall.
Maxim Smolentsev, general director of Shambala CJSC, said local authorities have supported the project “in every possible way,” according to CDC Gaming Reports. “In the short term, we see the Primorye IRC as a pan-Asian resort that attracts tourists from many countries of the world,” with the primary target markets being Japan, Cambodia, China and South Korea.
Deputy Chairman Konstantin Shestakov said the casino would offer “a fabulous service’ to high-rollers, but added, “We are not going to become a closed elite club. Our casino will be truly popular.”
Primorye’s designated gambling zones is expected to benefit from its proximity to China and northern Asia. According to Igor Trofimov, executive director of the Primorsky Krai Development Corp., 12 casino resorts are planned for the zone. Next up: NagaCorp Naga Vladivostok hotel and entertainment complex, expected to open in 2021.
