PRESS RELEASE

Tourist-oriented casino collaboration with National Gaming Control Board (NGCB)

Monday, 10th May 2021

Paga Hill Development Company (PHDC) is delighted to announce a partnership with the National Gaming Control Board (NGCB) in realising a gaming and entertainment venue at Paga Hill Estate.

A casino as a means of attracting greater tourism

Whilst PNG enjoys strong leisure tourism in adventure and nature segments, new attractions need to be developed to broaden this audience and increase visitation. Plans for Paga Hill Estate feature a range of tourism infrastructure that will together transform the visitor experience to PNG. A casino is a key element of this tourism strategy and is a proven means of attracting international visitation.

A casino at Paga Hill Estate

A Paga Hill Estate casino would be targeted at foreign tourists, with mechanisms in place to protect the local population. Like most casinos around the world, the venue will include much more than gambling and establish a full-blown entertainment destination. Complementing Paga Hill Estate’s planned cultural centre, military museum, hotel and retail mall, the casino would attract new visitors to PNG, creating tourism and hospitality jobs, as well as support a range of spinoff and servicing businesses.

Collaboration with NGCB
Recognising the project’s tourism potential, as well as its potential contribution to the local economy, the Marape Government designated the area a Tourism Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in March 2020. In addition to a range of fiscal incentives designed to attract foreign investors to our shores, Paga Hill Estate was provided an exclusive option to operate the only casino in Port Moresby. The National Gaming Control board (NGCB) supports this Government strategy and recognises Paga Hill Estate as the ideal location for Port Moresby’s only casino. PHDC will now collaborate with NGCB to pre-select a casino operator for Paga Hill Estate, with a view to establishing an entertainment venue to attract new visitors to PNG, stimulate the local economy through hospitality jobs and business opportunities, as well as raise additional revenue for the Government to support key social and development agendas.
PHDC looks forward to further announcements relating this exciting collaboration.