Hard Rock applies for Catalan casino license

al casino operator Hard Rock has applied for a casino license to build an integrated resort (IR) in Catalonia, local media reported on Friday.

US-based Hard Rock’s application to develop an IR near Tarragona, some 100 kilometers southwest of Barcelona, will now proceed to the assessment stage as the only surviving bid.

Other big casino operators such as Melco International Development and Genting Group have also previously shown interest in the Catalan project.

However, with the aforementioned companies announcing that they were stepping back from the project, the Catalan government has confirmed that Hard Rock was the only company to submit a bid before the 30 June deadline.

At present, the master plan involves €2bn investment and the creation of 10,000 jobs. In a statement, Hard Rock said it was looking forward to building “a unique centre of leisure and world class entertainment in Tarragona.”

Only last week, Hard Rock announced its exit from the €500m Melco-Hard Rock IR project in the Republic of Cyprus. The company sold its 35.37% stake in the future resort, and although the company did not comment on the decision at the time, it was clear that it wanted to pursue other investment opportunities.

The Catalan government approved plans for the development of the Tourist and Recreation Complex, formerly known as BCN World, at the start of 2017.