Pacific Pearl Project Positions Papua New Guinea for First Regulated Casino Launch
TL;DR — Papua New Guinea could soon enter the regulated casino sector for the first time, with the Pacific Pearl project in Port Moresby moving closer to opening almost two decades after the Gaming Control Act 2007. It has begun recruiting staff for a potential launch later this year but requires final licensing approval and is expected to offer around 100 gaming machines and 20 tables.
SCCG Take — This tests whether regional operators can activate a three-segment market in an untested jurisdiction. Licensing outcome and Phase 2 execution will signal viability for scaled Pacific gaming investment.
Papua New Guinea is set to enter the regulated casino market for the first time as the Pacific Pearl development in Port Moresby nears a potential opening later this year. The waterfront property within the Paga Hill Special Economic Zone has started recruiting staff and needs only final licensing approval to begin operations. This follows nearly two decades after the Gaming Control Act 2007 created the framework for licensed casino gaming.
The project involves a Chinese development company active in the Paga Hill area alongside Fortuna Investments, which acts as co-investor and operator. Fortuna previously helped launch the Tiger Palace in Nepal, runs gaming at the Jade Club in Hanoi, and handled aspects of the Imperial Palace asset liquidation in Saipan. Kevin Wilcocks, who collaborated with Fortuna on the Tiger Palace before roles at Big Daddy casinos in Goa, serves as general manager and is based in Port Moresby.
Tim Shepherd, Fortuna Senior Partner, told Inside Asian Gaming: “We’re working to open. Our partners have been in PNG for many years now and they are confident they’ll get the license. Part of it is we have to stock the casino with gaming products and gaming people, but when we invite the government to take a look, they’ll see we’re ready to go.” The initial phase will include around 100 gaming machines, 20 tables, a restaurant, and dedicated VIP facilities.
Customer Segments and Government Aims
Shepherd identified three distinct markets. Local residents already engage with gambling, as roughly 5,000 slot machines operate in smaller venues nationwide. “Gaming in PNG, slot machines in particular as well as racing, it’s not a new thing for the locals. I’m not scared that the locals won’t play, I think they absolutely will.” Australian and New Zealand expatriates working in oil and gas, plus the city’s Chinese community targeting VIP rooms, round out the customer base.
Prime Minister James Marape has stressed tourism goals. In 2024 remarks, Marape said the casino would accommodate Asian visitors for whom gambling is popular, curb unregulated private gambling, and retain expenditure that wealthy locals currently direct to Cairns, Brisbane, Singapore, and Manila. As reported by World Casino News, the licensed venue provides a legitimate alternative.
Expansion Path and Broader Context
Shepherd outlined larger Phase 2 plans that would be five times the current scale, with the goal of building a NagaWorld-style tourist destination. Additional concepts include a community-oriented Leagues Club near the property. These efforts align with the PNG Chiefs rugby league franchise joining Australia’s National Rugby League as the 19th team in 2028, in a nation where the sport holds national status.
A separate proposal for casino operations on a floating vessel remains at an early stage and is not expected soon. The Pacific Pearl launch, if approved, would test demand across the identified segments while satisfying stated government objectives around tourism and regulated play.
Reporting: World Casino News
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
Fortuna tests whether three-segment demand can sustain PNG's inaugural casino in a jurisdiction with zero regulated track record.
We've watched Fortuna activate Tiger Palace Nepal and Jade Club Hanoi—now they're importing that frontier playbook to Port Moresby. Pacific Pearl is the litmus test for whether regulated casino infrastructure can work in PNG, and whether the Pacific island corridor becomes investable for our operator partners eyeing early-mover advantage in untapped markets.
- Pacific Pearl targets locals, expat workers, and Chinese VIP—100 machines, 20 tables
- Fortuna Investments operating; same team that launched Tiger Palace Nepal
- Final licensing approval pending; opening likely later this year
SCCG angle: SCCG has active relationships across Southeast Asia and the Pacific corridor. If PNG licensing finalizes and Pacific Pearl proves viable, we connect operators and suppliers who want early positioning in the next wave of island jurisdiction openings—using our boots-on-ground intelligence from similar frontier builds.
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