Reports LEBANON - UPDATE
Albert Mansi and Emile Kharat and the casino was built on a hill overlooking the Bay of Jounieh around 22km north of Beirut costing $4m. Te size of the venue was around 35,000sq.m and it was officially opened by President Fouad Chebab in December 1959.
For the last 60 years or so the Casino du Liban has been the only location in Lebanon where legal gambling is offered. It became well known for hosting large events and entertainment and attracted tourists from all over the world.
It was a high-end tourism complex with theatre and restaurants and was the venue for the Miss Europe pageants for five years running (1960- 1965) boosting its reputation and image on the international tourism map.
Te casino opened intermittently during the civil war but eventually closed in 1989 due to serious damages. In 1994, the Lebanese Gambling Law number 320 was issued and this authorised the Casino du Liban to become the exclusive operator of gambling games in Lebanon.
So, an agreement was made to re-open the casino via a $50m reconstruction and refurbishment project provided by the state in return for a 40 per cent share of the proceeds.
Te casino re-opened in December 1996 (the licence expires in 2026) and it re-established itself as an entertainment arena in the Middle East and a golden era began hosting concerts and shows and providing the best gaming and entertainment.
Currently the only forms of gambling permitted are casino gambling which is limited to the state-run Casino du Liban and the monopoly La Libanaise des Jeux lottery. No other gambling licences are issued due to the monopoly situation.
Between the casino reopening in 1996 and 2019 Lebanon saw a period of relative political stability which saw tourism increase and the casino ran successfully. In 2004 the casino was ranked 18th in the list of 100 most successful and dynamic casinos in the world.
Te casino works closely with the Ministry of Tourism to develop tourism in Lebanon plus actively supports various NGOs and charities.
WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS P61
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