internationalcasinoreview
Ground has been broken for the hotel to be operated by Hilton
Among the many quirky restaurants
already operating is Pisa Tower, which houses its own micro-brewery
favourable. Investment in casino gaming here will pay off.” With as many as 11 large top-
class hotels planned to be in opera- tion in the next ten years, plus many other smaller establishments, there are many opportunities for casino operators to take advantage of hotel companies’
marketing pro-
grammes as well as capitalise on the ever-increasing number of people coming to the city. Gaming legislation is currently being framed at the national level, with input from the Ajaran authorities. “Our primary objective is to make sure that casino operations are fair to everyone, the player, the operator and the government,” said Varshalomidze.
There are currently three casinos in Batumi. Casino Peace, a local company backed by Turkish invest- ment and located in the Sheraton, operates 12 tables and 80 slot machines, and was the first to take advantage of the first-year tax waiver. The second will be Casino Iveria at the Radisson, due to open in September. At the Intourist Palace Hotel, a small casino - originally owned by Viva! Group - has been operating since 2006, while Ajara- bet Casino, a Georgian operator like Iveria, has a venue uncon- nected to a hotel on the main Theatre Square. “There is great potential for casinos as part of the wider mix of tourist activities in Batumi,” said Var- shalomidze. “The number of visi-
tors from Turkey alone makes for a very interesting market. But we also get large numbers of people from Russia and Ukraine - and increas- ingly Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq and the Gulf - who enjoy gambling and who will make the effort to come to well- run casinos offering the luxury and service they expect.” The speed of the transformation in Batumi has been breathtaking. But the energy and determined attitude of the Ajaran leader and of President Saakashvili has been transmitted throughout the entire population. Public support for the plans, for the people leading them and for those putting them into action is high: but it’s not just enthu- siasm - it feels like a mission.
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AS REAL AS IT GETS October 2011 • interview 37
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