Caribbean Casino Collectors Club Quarterly Newsletter Volume 1, Issue 2 Winter 2008 Casinos of the Caribbean Antigua Aruba Bahamas Bonaire Cuba Curacao Dominican Republic Guadeloupe Haiti Martinique Puerto Rico St. Croix St. Kitts St. Maartin St. Vincent Suriname Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos 12/31/2007 Page 1 Charles Kaplan, Editor © Copyright 2007 Caribbean Casino News Casino Openings and Closings and new Chip Issues Aruba CHICAGO, Aug. 21, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- KL Holding Company, N.V., a closely held international resort and casino development company, today announced a new name for its recently acquired timeshare resort and casino -- The Aruban Resort & Casino at Eagle Beach. The Aruban is the former La Cabana Villas and Royal Cabana Casino in Aruba. The property includes a 362-room timeshare and resort hotel consisting of two five-story buildings and two four-story buildings, a 48,000 square foot permanent casino, a restaurant (currently operating as a temporary casino) and recreational amenities. The Company recently sold $65 million in senior secured notes to institutional investors and purchased the resort assets for $50.3 million. Company management said the new brand reflects "a sophisticated yet affordable destination timeshare resort and casino," adding that its new direction will be "Caribbean contemporary with American comforts." In addition to completely renovating and upgrading each condominium, the Company will redesign and renovate the permanent casino into a state-of-the-art gaming, showroom and restaurant facility. When completed the casino will be one of the largest in the Caribbean. In addition, the Company will be selling more than 15,000 timeshare interests. (The casino is now called the Key Largo Casino.) Antigua The St. James Club closed on 04/01/2007. This information was provided by Bob Hiestand and confirmed on the internet. Bahamas October 8, 2007 - Bahama News. “Upon the construction by Ginn of at least 1,000 bedrooms (inclusive of rooms and units 800 of which will be within the condo-hotel ‘rental programme’ or within a non-condominium hotel), the government will grant simultaneous and/or subsequent approval for the construction of an American style casino having a minimum of 20,000 square feet gaming area, in addition to its related facilities,” the document reads. The approval would be “subject to the casino being managed by a reputable and well known casino which meets all the requirements of the Hotel Corporation of The Bahamas for the issuance a Certificate of Consent and a Casino Management Agreement,” among other strictures. “It is agreed that government will not grant any other casino licenses west of the port area during the term of this heads of agreement (20 years), provided Ginn has opened the above casino within six years after the date of the sale of the first lot in the project.” 12/31/2007 Page 2 Charles Kaplan, Editor © Copyright 2007 Bermuda Curacao Hyatt Corporation and Santa Barbara Hospitality, N.V. announced the signing of a long-term management agreement for Hyatt Regency Curacao Resort, Spa & Casino. Construction on the 350-room full-service luxury resort and spa will commence this summer with completion of the resort slated for late 2007. Offering views that are second-to-none, Hyatt Regency Curacao will be a full-service upscale getaway, perfectly situated on two bodies of water: the Caribbean Sea and the large inland bay known as Spanish Waters. The hotel is now scheduled for a mid-2008 grand opening. Dominican Republic Casino Dominicus Ups the Ante in the Dominican Republic. Comfortably nestled between the small fishing village of Bayahibe and the tropical Mecca of La Romana on the southeastern shores of the Dominican Republic, Casino Dominicus, a new high-stakes, Las Vegas-style casino debuting in December 2007, promises an unparalleled gaming experience engulfed by the natural splendor of this true players’ paradise. Highly arched ceilings, rows upon rows of regal carpeting and precious gold undertones will adorn the bustling gaming rooms, perfectly complementing the royal grandeur and elite level of service encountered by guests of this world-class casino. Featuring Las Vegas odds, an exclusive players' club and the highest limits in the nation, Casino Dominicus will treat players to a luxurious, private gambling adventure. Lower minimum bets, when paid in pesos, will allow players the flexibility to further stretch their chances, while premier entertainment, haute cuisine and quality shopping will round out the offerings of this emerging destination, placing it on par with the major gaming establishments of the world. Thick, green palm fronds rustle in the breeze, while warm, salty sea foam tickles your toes. Charming hotels lined by cobblestone streets and flourishing gardens filled with star fruits and coconuts seem to blend seamlessly with the verdant backdrop of lush forest and towering, majestic mountains. In the distance the pulsating beat of an intoxicating rhythm underscores an exhilarating soundtrack of slots spinning, dice rolling and highly coveted tokens spilling to the floor. As the island's only casino with a players' club, a loyalty rewards program for frequent gaming, Casino Dominicus will provide two introductory offers, including free $20 match-play coupons and free $20 buy-in on slot machines. Club members will be able to accumulate points for rewards based on their play frequency. Meanwhile, members and non-members alike can earn comps for free rooms, meals and airfare at any of the casino's twenty-three gaming tables, thanks to a state-of-the-art player tracking system, unmatched by any other casino in the country. From standard games such as Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Three Card Poker and Texas Hold'em Poker to new favorites like Caribbean Stud Poker and Mini Baccarat, Casino 12/31/2007 Page 3 Charles Kaplan, Editor © Copyright 2007 Dominicus will provide a variety of ways to win big, along with same-day cash back, exclusive $5 and $10 high paying slot machines and complete ticket-in ticket-out technology, resulting in the only cashless betting system in the Dominican Republic. For sports fans and racing enthusiasts, Casino Dominicus' Race and Sports Book will give guests the opportunity to wager on major sporting events and horse races from around the world, including live simulcasts from the U.S. and Canada, bringing top-of-the-line gaming technology to the Dominican Republic. Soft, plush chairs and 42-inch, flat screen televisions will create the ideal setting for witnessing all of the action while relishing the comfort and luxury of the tropics. The casino complex will additionally offer distinctive nightlife and entertainment and a collection of retail spaces, from expansive luxury shops to small boutiques of handmade, local crafts. The development's 1,000-seat theatre will bring Vegas-style, grand-name acts, including international and local talent, to this otherwise quiet haven, while the chic disco bar will serve fresh fruit cocktails, Caribbean spirits and light appetizers amidst lively conversation and energetic Bachata beats, the Dominican’s spin on 'country' music. Three restaurants, ranging from fine cuisine to informal fare, will complete the destination's plentiful offerings. As an upscale dining option, Vesuvio at Casino Dominicus, like its original location in Santo Domingo, which has been delighting Dominican taste buds for over half a century, will serve classic Italian dishes and fresh seafood, including lobster, mussels, shrimp and red snapper, all flavored with a Caribbean twist. For guests desiring lighter, more casual fare, a sports bar will offer a full menu and drinks in a relaxed and informal atmosphere, while a contemporary sushi bar in the main shopping center will tempt more adventurous palates. Operating seven days a week and only fifteen minutes east of the La Romana-Casa de Campo International Airport, Casino Dominicus will be easily accessible for all travelers to the La Romana and Bayahibe region and will provide continuous nightly shuttle service to the Coral Canoa Resort, Gran Dominicus, Iberostar Dominicus, Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach and Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace. For more information, please visit www.casinodominicus.com. Jamaica Jamaica Gleaner - Wednesday | October 24, 2007. The old La Mirage hotel in Montego Bay has been rebranded with its managers now saying the small, 21-room property will offer casino gaming as part of a full entertainment package that also includes a 'gentleman's club'. The investment scheme Cash Plus, headed by Carlos Hill, acquired the property in February 2006, and has renamed it Hillshire Hotel. Hillshire's renovation under way for eight months was being finalized last Friday when Wednesday Business visited ahead of a soft opening of the property on Sunday, October 21. On Tuesday, the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission said casino gambling remains illegal and that Hillshire would not have had a license to offer that service. Hotels and other 12/31/2007 Page 4 Charles Kaplan, Editor © Copyright 2007 operations, however, are allowed to operate particular games and slots, under license granted by the commission. But the BLGC also said, following a review of its gaming system, that no application was made, nor has a license been issued for Executive Inn. Hill is the property's third owner in 22 years. Built in 1985, the hotel, located on Queen's Drive, in walking distance of the Sangster International Airport, began as La Mirage under the ownership of Osmond and Marcia Erskine. Puerto Rico Meet Puerto Rico - SAN JUAN, March 28, 2007. The Renaissance La Concha Hotel & Casino is expected to open in Fall 2007 with 248 rooms. The property will feature 15,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, as well as a 15,000 sq. ft. casino, three restaurants, oceanfront pool and a 5,000 sq. ft. fitness center located on the beach in the Condado section of San Juan.