Official softens opposition to planned gaming resort

Jan Jones, senior executive of US gaming giant Harrah's Entertainment, held talks with representatives of local authorities and NGOs in the Western town of Nova Gorica, where Harrah's plans to build a gaming resort with Slovenian gaming company Hit, Slovene Press Agency reports. Plans for the EUR 750m facility were in the focus of separate talks between Jones and Nova Gorica Mayor Mirko Brulc, with the latter saying he was pleased with the answers he got.

Brulc said that Jones promised him a new Las Vegas was not planned.

Brulc also said that the area around Ajsevica, some two kilometres east of the border town, was the only possible location for the resort; Jones said the location held several advantages which would be considered.

She also said it was important for her to have the facility located in the Gorisko region because of the area's beauty, access to infrastructure and "proximity to Italy and Austria".

At their first meeting-Jones already visited Slovenia in July-the pair exchanged opinions, with Brulc saying he was promised that the municipality's demands would be met.

"If this is so, the path is much more open than before," the mayor said.

Jones also held separate meetings with representatives of local NGOs and members of the regional office of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS).

Jones said that the preliminary plans for the resort had been changed.

Jones added that since the two biggest Nova Gorica casinos Perla and Park focus on gambling, Hit and Harrah's planned to build a "tourist resort", which would draw people from all over the world. Jones is expected to meet other mayors from the region on Friday and is to return to Slovenia in November.