8 Aug 2013

Samoa may consider new casino plans

1:17 pm on 8 August 2013

The Samoa Gambling Control Authority says it may look for new expressions of interest for a casino license after it ended negotiations with a Chinese business group.

The Chinese Exhibitions Tourism Group was planning to build a 500-room hotel with a casino but the Samoa Gambling Authority withdrew its casino license.

The ETG chairman, Deng Hong, is being investigated for corruption by Chinese Communist Party officials over land deals.

The chief executive of the Samoa Gambling Authority, Robbie Kearney, says Deng Hong's detention has affected the group's ability to finalise the casino license.

He says there is one casino license still issued to Aggie Greys, which is expected to open late this year or early next year.

"The GCA board will need to give consideration as to whether we go back to market for the second license or whether we just continue on with one license...the GCA board will meet over the next couple of months and give consideration to the various options that are open to us and some decisions will be made and we'll make the appropriate announcements at the appropriate time."

The chief executive of the Samoa Gambling Authority, Robbie Kearney.