GGRAsia – Satellite casinos in Cyprus open by spring 2019: Melco Intl

Satellite casinos in Cyprus open by spring 2019: Melco Intl

Sep 20, 2018 Newsdesk Latest News, Top of the deck, World

Hong Kong-listed casino developer Melco International Development Ltd says three of its so-called “satellite casinos” in Cyprus are scheduled to commence operations in respectively Nicosia, Larnaca and Paphos later this year. Another satellite casino in Ayia Napa – a coastal town that is part of the Famagusta district – is scheduled to open for business “in the spring of 2019”, the firm said in its interim report filed on Wednesday.

In late July, Melco International announced that a Cyprus-based consortium headed by the firm was to open soon a satellite casino in the terminal building of Larnaka International Airport, near the port city of Larnaka on the south coast of Cyprus.

The gaming venue at Larnaka airport will operate approximately 50 gaming machines, according to the July announcement.

The Melco International-led consortium – called Integrated Casino Resorts Cyprus Ltd (ICR Cyprus) – received in June 2017 a 30-year casino licence from the Republic of Cyprus government. The initial single licence also allows the holder to build four satellite casinos.

ICR Cyprus launched on June 28 a temporary casino called C2 in the southern city of Limassol, in Cyprus, to cater to players until the City of Dreams Mediterranean casino resort (pictured in a rendering) is complete. The temporary casino is to remain open until 2021, when construction of City of Dreams Mediterranean – also located in Limassol – is forecast to be finished.

In its interim report, Melco International said the gaming venue at its temporary casino has 1,300 square metres (13,993 sq feet), featuring 33 gaming tables and 258 slot machines. The company said additionally that the venue welcomed “over 34,000 individual guests” during the first three weeks of operation, and that “more than 6,000 visitors” had registered as members of the C2 Rewards Club loyalty programme.