Two American gambling companies are entering the battle for the right to build Greece’s new casino that is set to be situated on the site of the former Athens airport. The project has been unveiled as part of a massive resort on Attica’s coast.
As CasinoGamesPro previously reported, the deadline for the Hellinikon Casino Resort project expired with only two gambling companies making license bids – the Hard Rock International and Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment.
Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment has unveiled a proposal for “Inspire Athens” – a futuristic-looking building that would feature no less than 120 gaming tables and 1,200 slot machines. A conference center, a sports center, an infinite-type swimming pool and a luxury hotel would also be part of the project. Mohegan has released its casino resort project in collaboration with GEK Terna, a local contractor. The proposal of Mohegan Gaming, which is planned to occupy approximately 15,000 square meters of the overall 6,200,000 square-meter Ellinikon Project, has been estimated at approximately €1 billion.
The casino resort has been presented as part of a larger luxury resort. Apart from the gambling and hospitality facilities, the American gambling giant also unveiled plans to incorporate a shopping center, a concert venue, as well as other leisure and dining facilities. The entertainment complex is planned to be family-friendly for both Greek and foreign visitors.
The New Project Expected to Attract More Visitors and Boost Country’s Economy
As confirmed by the Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC), this proposal of Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment is to compete with the one of Hard Rock International, the other American gambling operator that has been seeking to expand its worldwide presence with a Greek casino license.
Hard Rock’s bid for the Hellinikon casino license has also been estimated at about €1 billion. The company seems willing to focus more on the entertainment part of the project that usually complements large casino resorts.
The authorities are set to officially announce the winner of the bidding process by the end of November. The company which is set to receive the casino operating license will be able to establish a casino of at least 1.2 hectares that could host no less than 1,200 slot machines and 120 gaming tables and a number of other facilities as part of the resort. Some theme parks, convention facilities and luxury retail and dining areas are expected to be included in the project, too.
Lamda Development, which has undertaken the Ellinikon area’s development, has revealed that the overall cost of the project is expected to be worth approximately €8 billion. No matter which gambling operator will be chosen, Greece is focused on hosting one of the largest casino and entertainment complexes not only in Eastern Europe and the Southeastern Mediterranean but also on a global scale. Upon completion, the casino and entertainment resort will be one of the largest coastal resorts on the territory of Europe, too.
The Greek government plans to proceed with the project as quickly as possible. According to preliminary estimates, the casino resort complex is expected to attract thousands of tourists on an annual basis, which on the other hand would boost the entire economy of the country.
