Genting, five others, claim irregularities in Andorra license bid

Genting and five other losing bidders for a casino license in Andorra are petitioning the government to review and potentially annul the process due to irregularities.

Out of eight bidders, the contract was awarded to a local company called Jocs S.A., which had teamed with Novomatic for the bid, according to the Diary of Andorra.

The losers, who also include France’s Barriere, Spain’s CIRSA, Cierco, together with Partouche, and Bomosa, with Casinos Austria, were judged on a points system. Five were found to have an inferior score to Jocs, while Genting was said to have been eliminated on the basis of flaws in the property contract.

The groups met with the Bar Association of Barcelona and claimed to have uncovered flaws in the system that were significant enough to warrant cancellation of the license contract.

Genting’s U.K. unit and Catalan group Cirsa put in the largest bids, both pledging investment of EUR140 million ($164.6 million) in the project.

The Malaysian group teamed with Andorran businessman Marc Giebels van Bekestein, Arc Resorts President Mark Vlassopulos, and British investor David Gray. It will hold 70 percent of the venture.

Genting estimated that the project would create 1,000 jobs, with 600 during construction and 400 on a permanent basis. The IR was to feature a gastronomy market, a spa and two floors of private rooms and suites.

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