Elliniko casino project loses suitors

Only three of the original six interested parties in the southern Athens venue remain in the race for the permit and all of them are US-based.

Greece.- The casino project for Elliniko, southern Athens, is still in its most early stages as no company has been awarded a permit yet. However, it seems that international operators have lost their interest in the venue as only three of the original six suitors remain in the race for the licence, and all of them are US-based companies.

While European players have withdrawn from the fight for the casino permit, Caesars Entertainment, Hard Rock Cafe and Mohegan Sun tribe’s Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment are the remaining contenders for the Elliniko project.

According to local media, the terms of the concession by the contractor set to develop the property to the bid’s winner should be resolved over the next few days. However, the process – most likely – won’t see a preferred company announced before 2019, as it has been delayed and lasted longer than it was originally expected.

The process involves the creation of an Integrated Resort Casino (IRC) to be built over more than 600k square meters which will include hotels, convention centres, themed attractions, a 15k square-meter casino and other attractions. The operator chosen to develop it should be announced by March 2019.