The centre will include top-class hotels with 1,500 rooms, a convention and events centre, swimming pools, restaurants, a casino and numerous other facilities. The location for the facility is still unclear, as is the exact date when it will open its doors. According to the best-case scenario, it could open in three-years time, the companies said. Hit will own 51% of the joint venture and Harrah's the remaining 49%. The project is conditional on changes to provisions restricting foreigners' ownership of casinos and a reduction of the gaming tax. Finance Ministry State Secretary Andrej Sircelj said that the ministry was already amending the relevant legislation, which currently restricts foreigners to hold no more than 20% in a gaming venture, whereas the effective tax rate on gaming is 38%. The Economy Ministry welcomed the announcement. Marjan Hribar, the head of the tourism directorate, said that the project could have a decisive impact on the development of tourism in Slovenia. “All of us who are trying to meet the goals of tourism policy can only hope for such projects,” Hribar told the press.

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