THE Government and the Nation’s Capital City Hall officially launched one of the country’s next wave of development and modernisation – a K60 million Casino.
In six months’ time, the residents in Port Moresby are expected to see a new satellite casino that will be built by the Paga Hill Estate and aims to promote tourism in Papua New Guinea.
The groundbreaking ceremony of the Million Kina Satellite Casino was held on Friday where PNG’s Prime Minister James Marape, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and MP for Moresby South Justin Tkatchenko along with Deputy Governor Dadi Toka Jr officiated the ceremony giving the government’s green light for the project to kick off.
But the launch of the Million Kina Casino has attracted a number of criticisms from the Regulator PNG Gaming Board and an opposition MP on his project.
A satellite casino is a smaller gaming venue connected to a larger, main casino. It offers fewer games and amenities but serves to extend the reach of the primary casino into areas with gambling demand. They operate under the main casino’s license and are often regulated by specific laws.
The NCD Building Authority approved the application of Paga Hill Development on 19th September 2024.
However, the National Gaming Control Board Chief Executive Officer Imelda Agon issued an invalid licence notice on 3rd October 2024 advising the Building Board NCDC that the applicant named Paga Hill Development Ltd C/- DHV Engineers, may have submitted outdated and incorrect information to the board, which the board members may have relied on when issuing the named building permit concerning a casino in the named building.
“The named building permit issued “proposed Construction of 2 Level Casino Building” has been issued incorrectly on false and misleading information as the concerned Provisional Licence No. 001 is no longer valid. Paga Hill Development Company (PNG) Ltd has been advised on numerous occasions concerning the invalid status of their provisional licence (NO.001),” Agon wrote.
“I am concerned the company may not have disclosed this important information to your board. For reference, I wish to advise the Building Board NCDC, Paga Hill Development Company (PNG) Ltd originally applied for a casino licence in 2021.
“The NGCB in accordance with the Gaming Control Act 2007 issued a “Provisional” licence subject to strict and stringent conditions which were time bound. Unfortunately, the named company failed to meet critical provisional licence conditions hence the licence has been voided and no longer valid.
NGCB raises the above serious concerns as the building board NCDC has approved a casino building for the purpose of operating a casino without a valid casino licence from NGCB. “I therefore request the building board NCDC to review its decision in approving building permit No. BB24-022(B).
“May I also urge you and your board not to issue any future permits for buildings related to a casino, until verification of good standing and validity of a licence has been confirmed by the NGCB in writing.”
Marape on the other hand officially launched the project and uttered: “Port Moresby is on the brink of becoming the pulse of Papua New Guinea’s next wave of development and modernisation!”
“The ambitious project, spearheaded by international developers, is more than just a casino. With hotel rooms and top-tier facilities, this development is set to be completed in just six months, bringing new opportunities for tourism and employment.”
As highlighted by Prime Minister Marape, the casino will cater exclusively to overseas guests, tourists, and high-earning locals, positioning Port Moresby as a premier destination with world-class attractions.
Peter Barge, chairman of the Paga Hill Development Company (PHDC), emphasised that this casino is designed with the highest standards in mind, adopting entry requirements similar to those of Singapore’s elite casinos. “This project marks a significant milestone in PNG’s journey towards economic transformation, helping to reshape Port Moresby into a thriving metropolis.”
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