The Republic of Cyprus expects to welcome its first new land-based casino in October, while another operator joins the ranks of the Republic’s licensed online betting brigade.
On Saturday, Cyprus Property News reported that the consortium of Hong Kong-listed Melco International Development, Florida’s Hard Rock International and local firm Cyprus Phassouri (Zakaki) Limited expects to open its temporary land-based gaming venue in Limassol in October, while smaller satellite gaming venues will start opening this summer.
Melco-Hard Rock Resorts Cyprus was officially granted the Republic’s sole casino license last November, entitling it to build a major integrated resort in the Limassol region (check out the promo video at the bottom of this article). That venue isn’t expected to open until 2020 but the license also permitted the consortium several methods by which to start earning gaming revenue in the interim.
The report claimed that the consortium expects to receive its operating license shortly after a coordinating committee completes its due diligence checks and submits its report to the National Gaming and Casino Supervision Commission.
By July, the consortium hopes to be operating four satellite gaming venues, the largest of which will be based in Nicosia and will feature 50 slot machines and five gaming tables. Three other slots-only venues will be based in as-yet undetermined locations in Paphos, Lamarca and Famagusta.
Meanwhile, Cyprus’ National Betting Authority (NBA) has welcomed its sixth licensed online sports betting operator. U.B.E.T. Ultimate Bet Entertainment Technologies Ltd was granted a Provision of Betting Services Class B (Online) license earlier this month to operate the Ubet.com.cy domain and take wagers from Cypriot punters.
The U.B.E.T. site is powered by Malta-registered Betomall Ltd and is not affiliated with the UBET sports betting brand of Australian betting and lottery operator Tatts Group. The NBA’s other approved online licensees include Bet365, Betfair, Meridian Gaming, Soiximan and Bet On Alfa. The latter site is also powered by Betomall.
