Israelis are no strangers to casinos online or off. Some have made fortunes by anticipating the success of Internet betting operations, others are part of consortia investing abroad in entertainment complexes including casinos. A press release from Tel Aviv yesterday announced approval by the Budapest General Assembly of a plan to develop land on the island of Obuda in the Danube River, located in the heart of Budapest. The tourism oriented area will include 8 to 10 three-star and five-star hotels, 4 apartment hotels, which will be complemented by complex services, sport centres, yacht harbours, casino, shops, and a conference and convention centre accommodating 3500 participants and an exhibition hall.

In Israel a tourism task force has recommended casinos as a means to boost tourism. A casino for Eilat has long been rumoured, and the Red Sea resort is the place named as the site where Israel’s first casino should be built. Further casino development in Mizpe Ramon and the Dead Sea area is also suggested. The task force report states that the Ministers of Finance and Tourism should appoint a team to present recommendations to the government by next month, that there should be investment in internal tourism, and that the government should amend current legislation governing aviation in order to encourage free competition in flights to and from Israel.

Recently the new government in neighbouring Palestine has made it clear that the casino in Jericho is unlikely to reopen because of religious laws. In the past, before it was forced to close amidst turmoil in the region, many Israelis gambled at the Oasis Casino operated by Casinos Austria. Jericho was the first town, along with the Gaza Strip, that Israel handed back to the Palestinian Authority and the Washington Post back in 1999 hopefully reported, “Now, all signs show that this onetime winter resort town for the local elite--situated at the lowest, oldest inhabited spot on Earth--is preparing to recapture its former glory.”

From an economic point of view it makes sense to tap the market of Israeli gamblers who presently take their money to casinos in Greece, Eastern Europe and beyond. Casinos in the Israeli resorts would also bring extra tourism dollars. When the Oasis Casino was operational it was not only the Israelis who crossed the border to gamble in Jericho, it was also American and European businessmen and tourists who were looking for more evening entertainment than could be found in Israel. Therefore the recent recommendations by the tourism task force are hardly surprising. Casino tourism in Israel could be on the cards. (E-05.02.06)

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