“A casino is now open in Samoa with 100 slot machines and six tables,” said Samoa’s Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi in an exclusive interview with Samoa News last week, where he also pointed out that despite numerous objections, it’s finally open.

He told Samoa News that the idea behind the government's decision to have a casino, is so tourists will spend more time in Samoa and spend their wealth there. He also said it will boost Samoa’s foreign exchange, create new activities for tourism and generate more money for the Samoa government.

He said what was recently opened is one of two venues for the White Sand Casinos, at Aggie Grey’s Lagoon Beach Resort in Mulifanua, with the second one to be opened in Apia with 220 slot machines and 24 tables.

He told Samoa News that some of the income generated from this project will be allocated for education and sports, and that the casino has already created 100 job opportunities for those in Samoa, with more opportunities when the second casino opens.

Samoa News asked about the local laws governing casino operations — which ban Samoan citizens from entering the casinos. He explained that those holding Samoan passports are banned, but those with foreign passports are allowed to take advantage of the casinos, which will be open from 2p.m. to 4a.m. Monday through Saturday. They will be closed on Sundays.

“US passports, New Zealand, Australia, passports aside from Samoan passports are foreign passports — and those in American Samoa who travel all the way to Las Vegas can now come over and try the casinos we have. It’s closer to home and only 45 minutes from Tutuila.”

At the opening night held in August, Samoa Observer reported that Prime Minister Tuilaepa reminded everyone that the road to the casino’s opening was not easy — as there had been many objections about the government’s decision to legalize gambling, including strong opposition from the churches and critics of the government.

But the government persevered because it could foresee the benefits for Samoa, he said. Besides, he said, the decision to issue gambling licenses was not new. He recalled that some 30 years ago, the government had approved a casino license for another hotel company. A Memorandum of Understanding was drafted, but the Casino was never built.

The Prime Minister said that the casinos are made available for people who are interested in them.

“Gambling is a personal choice,” he said. “One can still gamble sensibly.”