In?Cyprus, casino operator, Melco International Development Limited, has reportedly opened Cyprus Casinos Larnaca (C2 Larnaca), its third satellite or “pop-up” casino in the Eastern Mediterranean, while awaiting the eventual opening of the main resort.
Hong Kong billionaire businessman,?Lawrence Ho Yau Lung, heads Cyprus Casinos, and C2 Larnaca, the counterpart to the coming satellite gaming facilities in Paphos and Ayia Napa and to C2 Limmasol, an interim casino which?premiered on June 28 this year?at Zakaki, Limassol (pictured, right), and that paves the way for the City of Dreams Mediterranean resort expected to open in 2021.
C2 Larnaca:
Located on the south coast of Cyprus near the port city of Larnaca at the?Larnaca International Airport, C2 Larnaca has facilities situated in two separate areas of what is Cyprus’ main international gateway. All combined it offers 42 slots machines. Accessible to airside passengers only, the first location is within the departures area, while the second, said the firm, is located in the arrivals area and can be accessed by the general public, according to GGRAsia.
In a statement within a Friday press release, President of Cyprus Casinos,?Craig Ballantyne, said…
“Keeping to our schedule, C2 Larnaca has become the newest member of the C2 portfolio. We believe that C2 Larnaca will offer tourists and locals travelling from and to Cyprus a unique entertainment experience.”
Thirty-year license:
Parent of Asian casino giant,?Melco Resorts and Entertainment Limited,?Melco International Development Limited?last year won the right to bring the first casino to Cyprus via?a 30-year license. It subsequently spent approximately $14.13 million to open the C2 facility as a way to promote interest in its much larger?City of Dreams Mediterranean?development, which is scheduled to launch outside the nearby village of Tserkezoi.
C2 Nicosia launch:
Earlier this month, the group launched the second of four satellite casinos in Cyprus when C2 Nicosia premiered with?five live-dealer tables and 50 slot machines, along with a restaurant and bar in the capital city.
The Friday release also reportedly confirmed the 2019?opening of satellite casinos at Paphos and Ayia Napa, a?popular Mediterranean resort town?at the far eastern end of the southern coast of?Cyprus.
“Operations of C2 Limassol will cease when the City of Dreams Mediterranean integrated casino resort is launched, while the four satellite casinos C2 will continue to operate,” the release stated, GGRAsia reports.
Main build:
Being built at an estimated cost of $648 million, the 500-room City of Dreams Mediterranean development is due to feature eleven restaurants as well as a 70,000 sq ft gaming floor offering around 1,200 slots and 136 gaming tables. The island nation’s first integrated casino resort is due to be managed by a Melco International Development Limited-controlled consortium.
Expectations exceeded:
C2 Limmasol,?complete with a 13,993 sq ft gaming floor offering a selection of 258?slots?alongside 33 gaming tables,?has reportedly welcomed some 175,000 people since opening the temporary facility some five months ago.