Cyprus looks at one investor, three casinos, controversy still there

The government has decided to all up to three casinos to operate on the island, but under a single investor and with the condition that it must include a holiday resort, an issue that has raised as much praise as controversy.
Members of the Paphos Coordinating who met with President Nicos Anastasiades on Monday said the investor will be allowed to determine the site of the casino-resort.
In July, the Cabinet announced it would be granting a licence for an integrated casino resort rather than hand out several licences for smaller operations.
“We received assurances from the President that the investor will have the right to open one casino and two branches in other districts,” said Paphos Mayor Savvas Vergas, hopeful that the investment would be made in his town.
“The government is willing to allow the investor of the integrated casino-resort to operate another two smaller casinos in other areas, away from the main resort,” said Paphos Chamber of Commerce President George Leptos adding that other tourist districts will not be affected by the presence of the casino-resort in a single district.
Vergas also said that in the near future an advisor will be appointed to draw up the conditions for the procedure to be announced to find the investor.
Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides had announced in July that the licensing procedure will start immediately on a “fast-track” basis and will be completed in 12 months “because the country’s economic and tourist development needs a casino with specifications of the same standards as those of the big casinos around the world”.
Deloitte consulted the government on the blueprint for the casino license, based on international norms, but it does not seem to have included the opinions of all stakeholders.
The controversy exists over the decision to include a hotel or resort within the casino project which several tourist industry experts say is unnecessary at a time when it will be competing with some of the finest 5-star hotels on the island.
“An integrated casino with infrastructure for all-year activities would have been better, that would include a multi-purpose property with a conference centre, culture and theatre facilities and other services that would complement the hotels, not compete with them,” a leading hotelier told the Financial Mirror.
“Had it been a casino without a resort attached to it, it could be located in any district and no one would object,” he added.