Samoa’s tourism numbers plummeted following the devastating tsunami in 2009. Now the South Pacific island is hoping to kickstart tourism with the opening of two new casinos. The first, located at Aggie Grey’s Lagoon Beach Resort & Spa, will open in August. The second, located at Aggie Grey’s Hotel and Bungalows, will open in early 2015.
Once both casinos are fully operational, Samoa’s casino market could potentially rival Vanuatu’s and New Caledonia’s. Since locals are not allowed to gamble, the resorts will cater only to foreigners and are expected to attract 1,500 visitors a day or more.
Managed by Australia’s Indo Pacific Gaming International and Hong Kong’s Gaming Concepts Group, the first casino at the 145-room luxury hotel Aggie Grey’s Lagoon Beach Resort & Spa will offer a variety of electronic gaming machines, including a mix of brands and jackpots based on the New Zealand market. Also, 12 table games, including roulette, baccarat, blackjack and poker will be offered, with SicBo added by the end of the year.
The second casino, located in Apia, will feature 24 tables and more than 200 electronic gaming machines.
