Despite earlier announcing that its Casino Jai Alai venue would re-open for business before the end of the year, Macau casino operator SJM Holdings Limited has now reportedly revealed that the venue is not expected to begin welcoming players again until early in 2017.
According to a story from Asia Gaming Brief citing a report from radio and television broadcaster Teledifusao De Macau, SJM Holdings Limited is “wrapping up” ongoing renovation works on the closed Casino Jai Alai, which is located across the street from Casino Oceanus At Jai Alai and near the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, with the revamped property expected to feature “about 30 to 40” mass-market gaming tables.
“It’s hard to determine [an exact date],” Ambrose So, Chief Executive Officer for SJM Holdings Limited, reportedly told Teledifusao De Macau. “We will surely finish the construction works within this year but we also wish the government could cooperate at speeding up the approval, licensing and inspection procedures.”
SJM Holdings Limited, which is responsible for over 15 Macau casino properties including the iconic Grand Lisboa, Casino Lisboa and Casino Golden Dragon, announced in November of 2012 that it would be “temporarily” closing?Casino Jai Alai for redevelopment before explaining in August that the large harbor-side venue would be re-opened before the end of 2016 complete with a 132-room hotel and a gaming floor offering some 100 slots. It was earlier reported that the Hong Kong-listed company had entered into capital commitments for the revamped enterprise as of the end of June worth around $718,072.
Teledifusao De Macau moreover reported that Angela Leong On Kei, Managing Director for SJM Holdings Limited, has reiterated her support for the building of an amusement park next door to its under-construction Grand Lisboa Palace. The $3.9 billion and 2,000-room property is due to open in March of 2018 on the Cotai Strip with So declaring that the planned project is currently mothballed subject to the receipt of necessary government approvals.