Why the ‘fully in place’ casino at the St. Regis Bermuda Resort never opened

Wednesday, October 2, 2024 7:42 PM
  • Sam Strangeways, The Royal Gazette

A co-owner of the St Regis in St George’s has spoken publicly for the first time about why a casino has not opened at the luxury resort.

Laura Purroy, a representative of Hotelco Bermuda Holding Ltd, told The Royal Gazette that the refusal of local banks to handle the proceeds of gaming ultimately led to a decision to pull the plug after several million dollars had been invested and a casino was “fully in place”.

She said the hotel, which was also dissatisfied with the regulatory regime on the island, did not pay its $600,000 license issue fee to the Bermuda Gaming Commission once it became clear the project could not proceed.