Samoa opens its first land-based casino

Last Saturday, on August 30, a land-based casino has opened its doors to the public in Samoa.
The Aggie Grey’s Beach Resort & Spa is located in the city of Mulifanua, northwest of Upolu island.
This is the first of its kind to be opened in the country.
Over a year ago the operator of the complex received one of the two licenses issued by the local government.

85 slot machines and 12 game tables

The casino-hotel Aggie Grey’s Beach Resort & Spa is located on the resort island of Upolu, near the terminal of the international airport and a ferry station.
The establishment offers 85 slot machines and 12 gaming tables dedicated to roulette, baccarat, blackjack, poker and sic bo.
The complex is managed by the Aggie Grey hotel group that was founded in 1933.
The resort also offers many other facilities to attract tourists, business travellers and families.

Participating in the development of the country

On the occasion of the inauguration of the complex, the Prime Minister Tuila’epa Sailele Malielegaoi reminded of the economic benefits such a facility offers, and the employment opportunities it provides.
The hotel-casino should therefore be a part in the development of the country which is being rebuilt after the devastating tsunami of 2009.
During his speech, the politician said the government wanted to allow the creation of casinos in Samoa in order to boost tourism by attracting a new class of visitors interested in gambling.

A law that was introduced in 2010

It was in 2010 that the country’s government approved the law for the liberalisation of the casino market that is controlled by the Gambling Control Authority of Samoa (GCA).
This text limits the number of licenses to 2 for the first 10 years.
The first license was issued to the Chinese Exhibition Tourism Group, but it was revoked following the suspicion of corruption against the president Deng Hong who is the subject of an investigation about land deals in mainland China.
A partnership between Australia’s Inda Pacific Gaming International and Hong Kong’s Gaming Concepts Group received the second license that allowed the creation of the hotel-casino Aggie Grey’s Beach Resort & Spa.
The law was passed against strong criticism from the Church and various pressure groups.
The complex has already created 100 new jobs.