In just a few hours, one of the most exciting new casino projects of late will open to the public as a “soft launch.” Local and local dignitaries and local media have already made their debut on the Lawrence's latest global project, the Tigre de Crystal, located in Primorsky Krai, about 50 km (31 miles) from Russia's Vladivostok Free Port. Assuming last minute approval is received, the public will soon have the opportunity to marvel at the inside of the eight casinos opening within four integrated resorts within the Maritime Province Integrated Entertainment Zone (IEZ), walking the luxurious floors.
The Primorsky region is just one of four special “gambling zones” set up with the massive closure of the Russian Federal Casino in 2009. At that time, the World Casino List listed more than 170 casino locations. One of the last two gambling zones added is Sochi, which has already invested more than $50 billion in infrastructure and development for the 2014 Winter Olympics. But the Primorsky region will be open for the first time and has the best chance of immediate success, as it is close to hundreds of millions of gambling-hungry Russians, Chinese, Japanese and Koreans located within two hours of the entertainment zone.
Tigred Crystal is led by Craig Ballantyne, CEO of Scots who left the British gambling business and moved to Poland in the 1970s, and has since worked in Ukraine, Russia, Romania, South Africa, and Greece before partnering with Lawrence Ho Yau Lung, the son of the Macau gambling tycoon and legendary Stanley Ho. Ho controls Tigred Crystal through G1 Entertainment (formerly the Eastern First Gambling Company), a subsidiary of Summit Ascent Holdings. Ho is also a major shareholder in Melco Crown Entertainment, and opened integrated resorts in Macau as well as the Philippines prior to the Russian Maritime Province. Another casino he runs, Studio City, will also open in Macau this month.
After the initial soft launch of Tigre de Cristal, a grand opening, including a hotel, will take place at the end of the month, the project will open in stages, the final completion date is 2021, and the first phase is expected to take place within three to six months.
Silence is needed for a soft launch, but the initial opening was planned at the end of last year, postponed to April, May, July, August and September 2015, and the firm confirmation of October 8 has led to the property facing procurement and approval challenges to date.
