Upcoming developments at the Montego Bay Resort include the addition of a casino along the Rose Hall stretch.

Upcoming developments at the Montego Bay Resort include the addition of a casino along the Rose Hall stretch.

Montego Bay's casino strip, home to popular resorts like the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Moon Palace Resort, is currently without any publicly announced future plans or developments. However, the Jamaican tourism landscape is undergoing significant change with the commencement of the $1 billion Harmony Cove project [1].

Located between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, Harmony Cove is a joint venture between the Jamaican government and Nexus Luxury Collection. This expansive 2,300-acre development aims to include luxury hotels, upscale residences, entertainment venues, and a full-scale casino. While the project does not directly involve Hard Rock or Moon Palace, it represents a significant future development near Montego Bay's tourism corridor, potentially impacting the region's casino and hospitality landscape.

The liberalization of slot machines and table games has been beneficial for Jamaica's tourism industry, which is a crucial component of its economy. The Rose Hall corridor in Montego Bay, a popular tourist destination, is already surrounded by several four- and five-star resorts, including Hyatt Zilara, Hyatt Ziva, Dreams, Iberostar, Half Moon, Jewel Grand, Sandals, Riu Palace, and soon, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Montego Bay, which will add 1,000 hotel rooms to the Rose Hall corridor, is expected to double its number of rooms in the coming years. Construction on this development began in April 2023 and is scheduled to open by the end of next year. The Moon Palace Resorts' Rose Hall property, set to open this fall, will feature approximately 1,350 guestrooms.

Edmund Bartlett, the Tourism Minister of Jamaica, announced more than 6,000 new casino hotel rooms are in development for Montego Bay. The Jamaican government is providing incentives for developers, as these resorts are expected to create thousands of sustainable new jobs and generate tax revenue.

Casino regulations were established in 2010 with the Casino Gaming Act, and casino licenses cost $300K upfront and are renewed annually at $250K. The government taxes gross gaming revenue at 10%. The Casino Gaming Commission requires gaming licensees to encourage responsible play by providing information about problem gambling, how casino games work, and keeping ATMs clear of the gaming floor.

Legal forms of gambling in Jamaica have a history dating back to 1965 with the Betting, Gaming, and Lotteries Act. The developments by Moon Palace Resorts and Hard Rock International are part of Jamaica's broader push to become a premier destination for luxury retreats and vacations.

In conclusion, while specific future plans for Montego Bay's casino strip remain unclear, the Harmony Cove project and the upcoming Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Moon Palace Resort developments indicate a promising future for the region's tourism and hospitality industry.

[1] Source: [Link to the original source if available]

1. The Harmony Cove project, a $1 billion joint venture between the Jamaican government and Nexus Luxury Collection, will soon be a significant addition to the region near Montego Bay, offering luxury hotels, upscale residences, entertainment venues, and a full-scale casino.
2. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Montego Bay, currently under construction and set to open by the end of 2024, will contribute 1,000 hotel rooms to the Rose Hall corridor, potentially doubling its number in the future.
3. The Moon Palace Resorts' Rose Hall property, opening this fall, will feature approximately 1,350 guestrooms, further bolstering the tourism landscape of Montego Bay.
4. According to Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, over 6,000 new casino hotel rooms are in development for Montego Bay, with these resorts anticipated to create thousands of sustainable new jobs and generate tax revenue.
5. Casino regulations in Jamaica were established in 2010 with the Casino Gaming Act, which sets the cost of a casino license at $300K upfront and $250K for annual renewals, while taxing gross gaming revenue at 10%.
6. The casino industry in Jamaica has a long history, dating back to 1965, with the Betting, Gaming, and Lotteries Act, and the developments by Moon Palace Resorts and Hard Rock International are part of Jamaica's broader push to become a premier destination for luxury retreats and vacations.

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