Like a scene out of the Odyssey, on the rocky Mediterranean shore, Club Hotel Casino Loutraki is being courted Penelope-like by two suitors both seeking the keys to the kingdom.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]rump Entertainment Resorts, formerly owned by US president-elect Donald Trump, is said to be interested in buying the five-star Club Hotel Casino in the seaside resort town of Loutraki, near Athens, which is currently under Israeli ownership.
Shrugging off speculation that he could be appointed treasury secretary, Carl Icahn, is instead reportedly looking to get Trump Entertainment Resorts back in the casino game.
The Loutraki Casino has been up for sale by Queenco Leisure International and Club Hotel Investments for the last two years, and was previously approached by Paris-based entertainment organisation Groupe Partouche in May this year and more recently by Trump Entertainment Resorts.
According to reports in the Greek media, in the past Trump Entertainment Resorts had also expressed an interest in constructing a casino at Hellenikon, Athens’ former airport complex, which now awaits an €8bn project set to redevelop the site into a multi-purpose hub, featuring luxury hotels, theme parks, retail outlets, and sports and conference facilities.
Meanwhile the other bidder for Casino Loutraki, Groupe Partouche, wants to expand the venue into a casino city, including exclusive facilities aimed at accommodating the VIP market as well as the infrastructure to host international poker tournaments.
