22 Dec 2011

Fiji grants casino license to US company

9:49 am on 22 December 2011

The Fiji interim government has granted the country's first casino license to a US company, One Hundred Sands Limited.

The company will build the first casino in Denarau outside of Nadi and run a smaller operation in Suva.

The casino, which will be linked to a new hotel and convention centre, will have 500 slot machines and 54 table games.

The chairperson of One Hundred Sands Limited, Larry Claunch, says the project will enrich the lives of Fijians.

The undertaking is predicted to produce upwards of 800 jobs for locals and add another segment to the tourism industry.

The groundbreaking for the gaming facilities, a new convention centre and luxury hotel is tentatively set for March.

54 companies and individuals had expressed an interest in setting up a gambling business.