The four satellite casinos in the Nicosia, Famagusta, Paphos and Larnaca districts are set to be operational by February 2018.
The consortium has submitted their proposals to the National Gaming and Casino Authority to be reviewed.
Sources close to Phileleftheros indicate that the temporary casino will operate in the former Orphanides supermarket at Zakaki, Limassol which borders the area set for the construction of the casino resort which is expected to be operational by 2020.
The largest satellite casino, housing 50 fruit machines and five games tables will be in Nicosia and is expected to be housed in a building opposite the Hilton Park Hotel along Grivas Digheni Avenue in Engomi.
In Larnaca, the consortium has chosen premises along the Phinikoudes promenade.
There are concerns that a deal with the owners of the building won’t go through and a new venue may be submitted to the Authority for approval.
The satellite casino in Paphos is expected to be housed in a building near the town’s harbour while the fourth satellite casino is expected to be housed in a hotel in Ayia Napa.
Casinos in Larnaca, Paphos and Ayia Napa will only house fruit machines.
The Gaming Authority is set to examine the proposals while the Town Planning Department and Fire Services are expected to submit their reports and recommendations within the next few days.
The aim is to complete all the necessary evaluations as soon as possible in order for the consortium to proceed with the necessary upgrades and renovations to the venues.
In the meantime, the National Gaming and Casino Authority has as yet not given the green light to the change in the shareholder’s structure of the consortium following Hard Rock’s departure and has requested additional details which are expected to be submitted by Melco within the next few days.
Melco made public its agreement with Hard Rock to buy out the latter’s percentage in the consortium to develop Cyprus’ casino-resort with an announcement in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on June 27.
Source: InCyprus
