SINGAPORE -- Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson is setting his sight on Spain as the next hub of gambling.
Adelson said:
"I want to do a mini-Las Vegas in Europe. I hope we can use the name Europe Vegas or Euro-Vegas."
The LVS CEO, who was in Singapore recently for the launch of a new entertainment feature at the Marina Bay Sands said that his company is in talks with both Madrid and Barcelona for a possible strip-style casino resort which is reportedly going to cost around US$ 20.3 billion.
"We're very seriously considering this, we're actively pursuing this," said Adelson adding that there was no excuse not to do it.
The project, if it pushes through with either Spanish city, will see the construction of about 20,000 hotel rooms, millions of square feet of space for retailers and conventions, and create about 180,000 job opportunities.
Adelson also told media that he plans to meet with contractors soon as well as assemble a team of architects and builders for the project.
Adelson and LVS would also need to work with the Spanish government to make the project a fruition. LVS would need land concessions and guarantees that plans would be approved in a timely manner.
The LVS CEO added:
"We need the support of the (Spanish) government. We can't draw up a plan, give it to the building department and wait six months to get an answer."
If plans push through the Spanish Sands property would be an addition to their global presence which includes Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, Sands Macau and Venetian Macau in the China S.A.R., the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem in Pennsylvania, and the Palazzo in Las Vegas.
Posted: February 23, 2011
