Malaysian billionaire Vincent Tan says his company will reapply for a casino operating license in Verzaya Hills (pictured), a resort in Pahang province.
Tan said authorities may invest 3 billion ringgit ($930 million) in the project if they approve the country’s second casino plan, the Business Times reported.
Berjaya Hills is a resort area owned by Berjaya Corp Bhd, an investment holding company founded by Mr. Tan that includes hotel management and TOTO betting games.
Tan applied for a casino license in Berjaya Hills more than a decade ago but was rejected amid protests.
“We will reapply for a license. Malaysia should not be obsessed with one operator. It should be shared with other operators as tourism development can generate a lot of income for Malaysia,” Tan told the newspaper.
Berjaya Hills is currently licensed to operate a slot machine. The complex is just minutes away from the only casino in the country in Genting Highlands, which is operated by Genting Malaysia Bhd, which made 1.4 billion ringgit in casino revenue in the first quarter of 2014.
Tan told the newspaper he hoped no party would object to the new project. 바카라사이트
“Malaysians and foreigners are spending money on gambling, hotels, food in Singapore, Macau, Cambodia, the Philippines and Las Vegas, and they will definitely want to come here,” he said.