A friend our ours called today and said a casino was being built on the Gourmet Grande Marche site. Does anyone have any information about this as well as which Casino group is doing this? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Weird, on the site?? As in, they are taking out the GM Grand Marche? I hope not, as we go there often. And I didn't think there were any casino licenses available?

Whatever happened to the need for x amount of hotel rooms to grant casino licenses, or was that only in respect to resort properties if anyone knows? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Pat, I know, but there are several casinos not affiliated with any hotels. Maybe they were in business before the law about the number of rooms was made or that may just apply to hotel grounded casinos.

to get a casino license you were supposed to have at least a 200 bed hotel. But in SXM rules change daily

SXM??? Wendell

That would be a very small location for a casino... weird.

Carol…not sure if the Le Gourmet Marche on Airport Rd. was the one you shopped in, but yes it closed for good about three weeks ago.

I can think of about 4 or more casinos not affiliated with hotels. There are several in Philipsburg. Several in Simpson Bay and in Maho.

Wow, that stinks....

They don't have to be ALL associated with hotels, but my understanding is that casino licenses NOT associated with a hotel, have to have a new casino license issued, in order to open. And I understood that there was a moratorium on any new casino licenses being issued. But, with the current government situation, who knows??

Since this is pure speculation, I can't help wondering if it IS true, what would become of our good friend's little curry stand out back?

Good question, but since badbenni owns property on island, I 'assume' that the story is true.

That was my first thought when I read this.

Souiliga.....I think currently there is only one casino at Maho.....and it is owned by Mr. Spaddarro, who owns the entire Maho area.....including the Sonesta, LaPLage, and LaTerrace...and all the buildings in the area there. He also owns a couple of the downtown PBurg casinos.

I also thought the building is too small for a casino but that is what my friend told me today. He said that one of the people at the site said that a casino was being built there. I will check it out when I return to SXM in November.
I do know the Grand Marche was bought this year by a huge grocery chain and maybe they are weeding out the smaller non profitable units. I very rarely see a lot of people in the Gourmet Grand Marche. The Porto Cupecoy Grand Marche does very well though.

I was wondering why it was closed this AM when I passed by. Too bad. It was convenient for me.

That why Barnacle no longer exists?

I don't know the names of the casinos but Jump up in Philipsburg is no where near a hotel, the other one on Front street is no where near a hotel. I don't know any hotels in Philipsburg with 200 beds. Maybe the Holland House but I doubt it. Another casino on the Pond Fill Road near the traffic light no where near a hotel. Tropicana (? not sure if that is the name)) on Airport road after the round the block is no where near a hotel. And the big new casino in Cupecoy by the Cliff, is that part of a hotel. Pat is a high roller and knows all the casinos, PAT????

Carol, You are probably right. I think the 200 bed rule is for casinos on hotel property. Remember the Dunes at Caravanserai, That was closed because the hotel was not big enough, The tore down the hotel to rebuild it big enough for a casino and the rest is history. I'm sure a casino makes more money than a hotel! Maybe the moratorium is over or maybe someone has connections.

i didnt say anything bout the hotel thing....i never heard that....was just stating fact that casino royale and a few more were owned by Spaddarro. YOu mentioned Maho......but was saying that one a long with a few more were owned by Spadarro. Also, a couple of the P Burg ones also owned by him and family, but they too own the Royal Island Great Bay property which is also Sonesta....and also the old Great Bay Hotel...which so happens to be larger than two hundred rooms.

I do beleive Starz Casino (the old Atlantis) does NOT have any hotel rooms at current, but at one point there was a plan to build a huge complex there, with hotel, and more shops.

....but like everything else....im sure he who pays the right people can get anything...

There are no casinos in simpson bay, sir.

Dot- Barnacles closed awhile ago. Someone told me she chose not to renew her lease.

There are no casinos in simpson bay, sir. [/quote]

Julius....Isn't Hollywood Casino in Simpson Bay?

That building was bought way back with a separate Casino License . Former Atlantis Casino is the one that's will be doing that.

What I meant was that the Gourmet building was bought with a separate Casino License way back.

Yes...

..and..just a thought. In France there is a market chain called "Casino"....maybe that's what is going there. .and yes, I know it's not on the French side.

Lesley--thanks for the info. Odd, because there was never a casino in that building, was there? So, it will be a Starz Casino?

Hollywood Casino is in Cole Bay actually.

Where IS Simpson Bay then? It doesn't start until after the bridge?

edit--And if Hollywood is not actually in Simpson Bay, I guess we tourists can be forgiven for not knowing that. The Daily Herald today has a picture along with a caption that says "This large pool of standing water behind the Burger King and Market Garden Supermarket in Simpson Bay collects every time there is a heavy rain shower and has become an increasing annoyance to the many tourists and residents who walk along this section of road every day. Residents are requesting that the relevant authority fix the drainage problem."

The grocery store in orient village is called petit casino.

With reference to the last comment from EdB, is the Dunes Casino still operational? It was when we were there in April but I don't hear or read of anyone mentioning it lately and I do realize things come and go and situations change almost keeping up with the island's government these days.

It's been explained to me that Simpson Bay ends on the airport side of the drawbridge, and that Cole Bay is on the other side. And yes, the standing water is terrible there on Billy Folly road near the Atrium! They did do some road work last year while we were there, but it really did nothing to alleviate the problem.

Not that the Daily Herald doesn't get things wrong fairly often, but no wonder we tourists don't know where Simpson Bay is, if the paper apparently doesn't! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

Agreed!

Well that looks like it may change. The point is there are free standing casinos not affiliated with any hotels.

Starz City Casino and yes there wasn't a Casino in there in the past. It is only being rented out now.

Lesley--do you know if it will have tables or just slots? And are they tearing down the old building or just remodelling? The old building doesn't seem like it would be big enough, unless they will be doing slots only. I hope it is tables, as I don't play slots.

I really can't say at the moment because they haven't started the work inside as yet. Most likely it will be both . Time will tell.

OK, thanks for the info.

Wait, what? My head hurts now... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />....are you telling me that Simpson Bay Yacht Club is really in Cole Bay?

And that places like the Atrium and the Greenhouse
http://www.thegreenhouserestaurant.com/simpson_bay_st_maarten_directions.html
Which plainly bill themselves as Simpson Bay addresses are not?