The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The proposed casino gaming reforms must be carefully assessed, according to Atlantis’s top executive, who said there was “no particular urgency” from the resort’s perspective to have the Bill passed.

Speaking at a recent ceremony to officially launch the Atlantis’ new $5 million race and sports book facility, George Markantonis, Brookfield Hospitality’s president and managing director, said: “We have mobile gaming on the property in a test run feature.

“We know that the gaming regulation recommendations are being reviewed by government. There is no particular urgency from our point of view. These things have to be carefully evaluated. We respect that gaming has to be regulated very carefully. I’m sure that, very carefully, whatever is the right thing to be done will be done.”

Mr Markantonis added: “We have all participated as an industry in putting our recommendations forward, and now it’s in the hands of government. I don’t have an expectation. I think the regulations need to be looked at very carefully, because once decisions are made we are all going to be living with them. We respect that process and we’ll just wait for it.”

The new sports book and horse race wagering facility for Atlantis customers at the property is operated by Las Vegas-based Cantor Gaming. Atlantis reached an agreement with Cantor earlier this year to provide a complete mobile casino gaming and mobile sports wagering solution, marking the first time that the Bahamas has offered mobile gaming to tourists.

Cantor Gaming, an affiliate of Cantor Fitzgerald, operates seven sports books in Las Vegas, as well as a poker room at the Palms and mobile wager apps.