The Gaming Commission from Puerto Rico has granted three new casino licenses to three hotels on the island: the Aloft, Hampton Inn, and Tribute Portfolio by Marriott, all located in the south.
The main goal is to promote tourism in the Ponce area through the development of this entertainment activity that will create 500 new jobs. One of the main benefits of granting these licenses will be the economic incentive that the casinos will bring to the region.
Only the Aloft hotel has already confirmed an investment of $42m to develop a gambling hall, while the other two casinos are still under construction and haven’t informed how much money they will allocate to their casinos.
Given the opening of the sports betting market in Puerto Rico for the Super Bowl earlier this month, it is expected that the activity will be included in the casinos’ offering.
Orlando Rivera Carrión, Director of the Gaming Commission, said: “The opening of these casinos will be an important step for the economic and tourism development of Ponce. We are pleased to contribute to the area in our role as betting regulator.”
“The activity from casinos, under the regulation and control of our government, has a high impact on society as they generate jobs, strengthen local companies that provide goods and services, and contribute to the economic progress and tax collection,” he added.
The commission also highlighted that the strict regulations and supervision put into place “give confidence to the investors and the players.”
Rivera Carrión assured that the private sector believes in Puerto Rico’s tourism and entertainment industries’ plans to recover. The director reported that the new casinos will generate $72m over 10 years: “The profits will be distributed and the government will receive 51%, while casinos will keep 49%.”