City of Dreams opens in Sri Lanka, eyes regional gaming market

South Asia’s first built-in resort, which opened over the weekend in Colombo, Sri Lanka, goals to draw excessive rollers from India, China and South-east Asia to its on line casino and different choices, officers mentioned.

“We are attracting not only Indians, with a large neighbouring booming economy, but also travellers from China and South-east Asia where Melco has its operations,” John Keells Holding chairman Krishan Balendra informed TTG Asia.

The Sri Lankan conglomerate’s US$1.2 billion City of Dreams formally opened on August 2 with two nights of occasions attended by Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan and a line-up of worldwide and native performers.

City of Dreams is a model of Macau-based Melco Resorts & Entertainment, which additionally operates comparable properties in Manila, Macau and Cyprus, every with gaming amenities and a Nuwa lodge.

Melco Resorts & Entertainment chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho, talking at a media convention in Colombo on Saturday, mentioned the brand new facility could be positioned as “Sri Lanka to India similar to what Macau is to China”.

“Sri Lanka is also perfectly positioned as a gateway to key feeder markets, including India, China, and Russia, with India in particular showing tremendous growth in its affluent middle and upper classes. By leveraging our global network of properties and expertise, we aim to attract high-value international travellers who are seeking world-class experiences in an authentic and unique destination like Sri Lanka,” mentioned Ho, including that the worldwide gaming market is estimated at roughly US$30 billion a 12 months.

The on line casino obtained round 500 abroad guests from India and China over the weekend.

The advanced’s Cinnamon Life lodge, with 687 rooms and 418,000m² of occasion house, opened final November. City of Dreams has been described as the most important venue in Sri Lanka for MICE site visitors, each home and worldwide. Melco has individually invested US$123 million within the on line casino and a 113-room Nuwa lodge.