Casino News

Deal done on Israel's first casino

2008-01-09 13:07:18

Israel is set to get its first ever casino after officials approved a 12-acre site in Eilat for construction purposes, it has been reported.

A deal was made between the Israel land administration and tourism ministry, according to Israel Travel. It is hoped that the casino will help to break the country's estimated $3.6 billion illegal gambling industry.

Yitzhak Aharonovitch, tourism minister, said: "A casino in Eilat is one of our main objectives for 2008 and its success will lead to the establishment of additional casinos throughout the country."

Mr Aharonovitch pointed to his expertise as a law enforcement official and promised "a casino would downsize the extent of the illegal gambling operations in Israel as well as the related criminal activities".

Eilat is twinned with South Africa's second most popular city, Durban, which itself features a casino, the Sibaya Entertainment Kingdom.