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Development of First Integrated Resort Begins Early 2017

By: , September 29, 2016

The Key Point:

Work to undertake Jamaica’s first integrated resort development, incorporating casino gaming, is expected to commence in early 2017.
Development of First Integrated Resort Begins Early 2017
Photo: Michael Sloley
Finance and the Public Service Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw (right), greets Acting Executive Director of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC), Carole Martine-Johnson (left), during the BGLC’s Gaming Industry Summit at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston on Thursday, September 22. Mr. Shaw was the keynote speaker at the event, which was held under the theme ‘Facing the Challenges. Navigating the Future’. Looking on is BGLC Chairman, Clovis Metcalfe.

The Facts

  • This has been disclosed by Finance and the Public Service Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, who said the development is being carried out by one of the two investors for whom integrated resort development orders were approved by the previous administration in 2015.

The Full Story

Work to undertake Jamaica’s first integrated resort development, incorporating casino gaming, is expected to commence in early 2017.

This has been disclosed by Finance and the Public Service Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, who said the development is being carried out by one of the two investors for whom integrated resort development orders were approved by the previous administration in 2015.

The Minister was speaking at the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission’s (BGLC) annual Gaming Industry Summit, held recently at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston.

Mr. Shaw said the investor, who will break ground in January, “also plans to operate a temporary casino as they build out hotel rooms”.

Regarding the other investor, the Minister said “discussions continue regarding new construction timelines, among other matters”.

Integrated resorts are large-scale developments that must include a minimum of 2,000 hotel rooms with linked casinos, the Minister explained.

These, he added, may also include other facilities such as shopping malls, restaurants, water parks and golf courses.

“They are expected to strengthen the tourism industry’s competitiveness and bolster economic development through job creation, increased tax revenue and additional demand for locally produced goods and services,” Mr. Shaw said.

The Minister pointed out that those developments will incrementally increase new hotel room construction now under way.

Last Updated: September 29, 2016

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