| | | | Casino du Liban | | Casino du Liban is a casino located in Maamletein, Jounieh in Lebanon and is 22 km north of Beirut. The casino was first opened in 1959. It closed in 1989 and reopened in 1996 after a $50 million reconstruction and refurbishment project.
The Inception
During the fifties and sixties Lebanon witnessed a period of prosperity and economic boom due to great tourism income. During that period, Lebanon became the perfect destination for vacationers from all around the world. In fact, some of the tourism activities banned in neighboring countries were allowed in Lebanon such as gambling, which was practiced in accordance with special permits. A decree was issued on July 29, 1957 licensing gaming exclusively to Casino du Liban. Accordingly the Maameltein area was chosen, more specifically a rocky hill overlooking the Mediterranean Sea that was inaccessible by car. Therefore Casino du Liban was obliged to purchase adjacent lands to open a special road leading to the hill from the seaside. It was also essential to make of this rocky hill a green area; the company had thus recourse to a French specialist to plant saplings and seedlings between the rocks, which were perforated at one and a half meter depth for water drainage. The land was beautifully turned into a conifer forest commensurate with the nature of the region. And the Casino was conceived…
Political, Economic & Development Role
Between the sixties and seventies, Casino du Liban played a remarkable development, economic and political role as local, regional and international VIPs rushed to it. The Casino gained considerable influence and imposed itself on the financial scene becoming a cornerstone in the Lebanese economy. Many prominent world personalities visited the Casino among whom the late King Hussein of Jordan, the Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Prince Albert of Monaco Omar Sharif and many others. Financially, the State-distributed Casino revenues contributed in promoting tourism; 25 percent had been allocated to hotel investors specifically to improve and upgrade hotels outside the Beirut city, in addition to 25 percent allocated to constructions that encourage and develop the tourism industry and the summer season. | | | | | | 926 | | |
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