JUE 28 DE MARZO DE 2024 - 06:08hs.
Former Hellinikon airport

License tender for new €1 billion Greek casino to commence within weeks

The start of the bidding process for a casino license for the former Ellinikon International Airport near Athens, Greece, is set to begin in the coming weeks. The Greek Finance Ministry and a specially assembled inter-ministerial committee will carry out the casino tender. The Hellenic Gaming Commission was previously tasked with preparing the bidding process.

The gambling regulator has selected law firms KLC Law Firm and Ernst & Young as its consultants during the preparation process. The Commission leased in December the virtual room for the casino tender to a British firm, local news outlet Kathimerini reported.

The bidding process was initially expected to be completed by the end of 2018, but hurdles of different nature delayed its start.

The eventual launch of the casino tender will mark the official start of the Hellenic Gaming Commission and other competent authorities’ quest for a suitable candidate to build and operate a €1-billion casino as part of a larger integrated resort scheme at the site of Athens’ former international airport.

The airport was shuttered in 2001 to be replaced by the new Athens International Airport. The site of the old airport eventually found a spot in a lengthy list of other assets the Greek government sought to sell as part of its privatization program under its third bailout.

According to the latest reports from local news outlets, US gaming companies Caesars Entertainment Corp., Hard Rock International, and Mohegan Sun have been considered the favorites for the casino license.

Source: GMB / Casino News Daily