Fiji casino may have a tribal feel; Cyprus discussing airport casino

Fiji casino

Fiji casinoFiji’s first casino business could have a tribal flavor with a Washington state group in pole position. The Snoqualmie Tribe may only pay a minimum of $1million for part ownership in the yet-to-be-built $290m luxury resort. In addition, they’ll have to lend Larry Claunch’s One Hundred Sands some of their infinite wisdom but in return they retain a significant stake in having the run of Fiji’s casinos. Tribal Administrator at Snoqualmie said: “The tribe thinks it would be an excellent opportunity to assist and mentor another indigenous culture… as they get into operating a gaming facility in their country.”

Claunch, hailed as a “savior” in the local press, is an American that lives in Hawaii and will construct the casino on Denarau Island on the west coast of Fiji. With the amount of tourists that already visit Fiji, the opportunity is ripe for growth. Add to this that Asia’s on the doorstep and the Snoqualmie’s could be on to a winner.

Cyprus is another country that could see a new casino as an old airport terminal was earmarked for the job. Communications Minister Efthymios Flourentzos admitted that Larnaca’s old terminal building is a proposition that’s as good-looking as anyone of 2011’s Ayre Heads. Florentzos told Cyprus Mail: “From the moment that the decision to create a casino in Cyprus was taken, we are evaluating all possibilities, but we share Hermes Airports’ view that the old Larnaca terminal scenario has several merits.”

The decision represents a dramatic u-turn by a Cypriot government that was completely opposed to the idea of casinos up until October this year before they decided that there could be some merit to the venues. In other words don’t be surprised if they turn round in a few months and change their mind yet again.