Genting Malaysia to manage US casino

US casino: First Light Resort & Casino in Massachusetts that will be managed by Genting Malaysia.

Resort casino to be built by Mashpee Wampanoag tribe

KUALA LUMPUR: Genting Malaysia Bhd (GenM) will manage First Light Resort & Casino, a native American-destination resort casino in Massachusetts, US, to be built by the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe.

GenM said in a statement that the appointment as the manager, which is pending approval from the National Indian Gaming Commission, was expected to be for seven years starting from the opening of the 900-room resort casino in Taunton.

The GenM group does not have any equity interest in the project or the tribe, which is sovereign. It has, however, invested US$249.5mil (RM968.1mil) in interest bearing promissory notes issued by the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Gaming Authority for the initial development phase of the project.

“The investment in notes allows the group to enhance the returns expected from its involvement in the project,” GenM said.

The resort casino would be opened in phases, it said, without giving a timeline. When completed, First Light Resort & Casino will feature, among others, a high-concept 150,000 sq ft casino featuring 3,000 slots, 150 gaming tables and 40 poker tables.

There will also be a luxury hotel complete with spa, a large pool and meeting facilities; a mid-range hotel with a 15,000 sq ft convention centre and a 200-seater 24-hour restaurant; a family hotel consisting of a 25,000 sq ft indoor/outdoor water park; and retail shopping destinations and a food court plus restaurants.

GenM said the group’s foray into the gaming industry in Massachusetts is expected to complement and further establish its growing presence in the US, where it already has operations and developments in the states of New York and Florida.

Besides Resorts World Genting, GenM owns and operates Resorts World Casino New York City, Resorts World Bimini, Resorts World Birmingham and other casinos in the UK.