Pacific Pearl expected to become Papua New Guinea’s first licensed casino
Pacific Pearl in Port Moresby will have around 100 gaming machines, 20 tables and VIP rooms.
Papua New Guinea.- Pacific Pearl has begun recruiting staff as it moves closer to opening what would be Papua New Guinea’s first licensed casino. The opening, which is still pending a licence, would come almost 20 years after the Gaming Control Act 2007 established a legal framework for the sector.
Located in the Paga Hill Special Economic Zone near Port Moresby, the casino is being developed by a Chinese company together with Fortuna Investments, which will also manage the property. It hopes to secure a licence to open before the end of 2026.
The venue will have around 100 gaming machines, 20 gaming tables, a restaurant and VIP rooms. Management expects to target three main customer groups: local players, Australian and New Zealand expatriates working in the oil and gas sector and the city’s Chinese expatriate community. Pacific Pearl is initially planned as a relatively small operation, but Fortuna is considering a second phase that could be around five times larger, developing the site into a larger tourist destination.
