A company looking to build a casino in Tonga has been given tentative approval from the government.
One of the directors of Tavake Tamafua, the firm behind the proposed casino, said they were on the verge of fulfilling requirements to move on to the next step.
The company said it received a letter from government minister Tevita Lavemaau saying that the government supports the initiative to establish a casino and will grant an exclusive right to build in Tonga within the next two years.
Tavake Tamafua will be required to invest over US$450m in infrastructure. Gambling, however, is currently illegal in Tonga, and the regulations would need to be changed before a licence could be granted.
