Casino milestone poised to boost tourism and create thousands of jobs in Jamaica.
Jamaica is about to make history with the opening of its first-ever casino in 2025. Set to be a key feature of the Princess Grand Jamaica resort, located in Hanover, this new development is expected to significantly enhance the island’s tourism and gaming industries.
The casino, slated for opening in mid-to-late 2025, will be a central part of the resort’s second phase. According to Delano Seiveright, senior adviser and strategist in Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism, everything is on track for the casino to open as planned. This will mark a milestone for Jamaica, whose gaming sector has faced challenges in the past, but now seems poised for a breakthrough.
Princess Grand Jamaica Resort: A New Era in Luxury and Gaming
The Princess Grand Jamaica resort, located near Negril on Green Island, is set to become the largest resort complex in Jamaica once fully operational. The resort will boast a total of 2,037 rooms, including two adults-only hotels. With its opening in two phases, the first phase has already introduced 1,012 hotel rooms to the public. The second phase will see the addition of 1,025 more hotel rooms, 14 overwater villas, and of course, the highly anticipated casino.
This new resort complex is being developed by Spain-based Princess Hotels and Resorts, which secured an Approved Integrated Resort Development Order (AIRD) from the Jamaican government in March 2024. This order allows Princess Hotels to apply for a gaming license, making the resort’s casino a reality.
In a major push to complete the resort’s second phase, Princess Hotels plans to construct a temporary road to minimize disruption to the main entrance. This move will help ensure the resort continues to operate smoothly while the casino is being built.
The opening of this casino is set to generate substantial economic activity. With its full operation, the resort will employ about 1,800 workers, host 1,800 all-inclusive guests, and accommodate 600 casino patrons daily. This boost to the local economy is expected to have a significant impact on both employment and tourism revenue.
Legal and Economic Challenges Overcome
The road to this major development has been long and challenging. While casino gambling was legalized in Jamaica in 2010 after extensive lobbying from business groups, religious opposition and financial hurdles initially stalled casino projects. High investment requirements and minimum room count thresholds were barriers that made early attempts unfeasible.
To attract investors, the Jamaican government revised these conditions in recent years. They reduced the minimum investment from $1.2 billion to $500 million and lowered the required room count from 2,000 to 1,000. These changes helped make the Princess Grand Jamaica project a reality.
Princess Hotels is now poised to take the mantle as the island’s first casino operator, a title that had eluded previous AIRD projects. Previous efforts, such as the proposed Rose Hall casino in Montego Bay and Harmony Cove in Trelawny, failed due to financial and operational difficulties. However, Harmony Cove remains a potential future project, according to Finance Minister Nigel Clarke, who recently indicated that it is still viable.
Boosting Jamaica’s Tourism Capacity
The opening of the Princess Grand Jamaica casino is part of a broader effort by the Jamaican government to expand the island’s tourism infrastructure. The government aims to grow Jamaica’s hotel room capacity from 32,000 to 50,000 within five years. The development of new resorts and the expansion of the gaming sector will play a major role in achieving this target.
This commitment to expanding Jamaica’s tourism sector includes several other exciting developments. Recently, the Riu Palace Aquarelle in Trelawny opened with 753 rooms, and plans are already underway for the construction of a 450-room Unico Resort, slated to open next year.
These projects are a clear sign that despite the global challenges facing the tourism industry, Jamaica remains a popular and attractive destination for both investors and visitors. Delano Seiveright, a senior adviser in Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism, emphasized the positive outlook for the sector, noting that “the tourism investment climate is buzzing with new developments and plans.”
A New Chapter for Jamaica’s Gaming Industry
With the opening of Jamaica’s first casino, the country is stepping into a new era of tourism and entertainment. This significant development is expected to draw more international visitors and boost the local economy, creating jobs and diversifying the tourism offering. The casino at Princess Grand Jamaica will not only offer new entertainment options for guests but also make a lasting impact on the country’s tourism and gaming landscape.
By the time the resort and casino are fully operational, Jamaica will have firmly established itself as a destination for both luxury and gaming, setting the stage for further growth and development in the years to come.
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