With Jacaranda, ‘Million Dollar’ Casino Industry Awakens

POPULAR cities such as, Macau in China, Las Vegas in USA, Atlantic City in USA, Monte Carlo in Monaco and London in England have been mentioned as world top five gaming cities. Casinos and other gaming facilities in the cities have contributed immensely to the development of their economy, creating massive employment and contributing to the tourism potentials of the state.

The fast growing gaming industry in Nigeria, which is projected to have potentials to generate N40b by 2016 got a major boost with the opening of a fourth casino outlet by Jacaranda Casino at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, last weekend.

Speaking at the opening of the new outlet in Ikeja, the Chief Executive Officer, Jacaranda Casino, Mr. John Storey said the gaming industry in Nigeria though growing, has great potentials to affect the country’s economy positively, generate employment and serve as a source of entertainment.

We decided to be a new part of the Nigerian night life. When we first came in, we found that the hotels were pretty boring in Nigeria. That was many years ago. Casino business in Nigeria is just at its infancy. Nigerians are just getting used to night life so with this opening, Lagos has become a much more fun place to be, he said.

We have been here for about nine years now, and this is out fourth casino. This is our new flagship. Since we set up the first casino it has been a great experience, now we are opening the fourth outlet, we are hoping to have three more in Lagos before we move to other parts of the country” Storey added. “Both machine and table games in Jacaranda Casino are world class, we have provided a nice and comfortable environment for people to play in a relaxed atmosphere. Nigerians don’t need to go abroad to pay poker and other games again, because Jacaranda is here to give the same gaming experience they get in countries with more advanced gaming industry.

Also speaking at the opening of the casino, the President Nigerian Gaming Association, Yahaya Maikori, said the opening of the fourth outlet of Jacaranda Casino is a positive indication that the gaming industry in Nigeria is growing, he added, “the Nigerian economy would definitely benefit from this facility and the development of the gaming industry as a whole; Nigerians that go abroad to play poker and other games will no longer have a reason to travel abroad to play, in that way foreign exchange will be saved.”

He said, “this facility provides both direct and indirect employment as young Nigerians who ordinarily would have been on the street looking for employment and a developed gaming industry would also serve as an extra means of income for government in terms of tax.”

The A list event had in attendance Nigeria’s finest Nollywood and musical stars including, the Chocolate City duo of MI Abaga and Ice Prince Zamani, Nollywood actor and director of award winning movie; October 1, Kunle Afolayan and owner of  Quilox night club, Shina Peller, among other notable personalities.