Papua New Guinea’s Pacific Pearl casino targets late-2026 opening

Fortuna Investments Eyes Late-Year Opening for Pacific Pearl Casino in Papua New Guinea

Pacific Pearl casino in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, is targeting an opening later this year with an initial 100 gaming machines and 20 gaming tables, subject to the completion of remaining regulatory approvals.

Tim Nguyen, Director of Fortuna Investments, told AGB that the casino was in the final stages of preparation. The project remains subject to the completion of the relevant regulatory and licensing requirements ahead of opening.

“On licensing, the process is progressing and we are working closely with our local partners and the relevant authorities,” Nguyen said in a written response.

“Our target is to open later this year, subject of course to completion of the remaining regulatory approvals.”

Nguyen said the initial gaming mix could be adjusted after opening according to market demand.

Fortuna is both an investor in Pacific Pearl and the company responsible for managing and operating the casino. Its duties cover the development and setup of the property, gaming equipment, recruitment and training, operating systems, marketing and overall casino management.

The project is located in the Paga Hill Special Economic Zone, close to the center of Port Moresby. The capital sits on the southeastern coast of Papua New Guinea, a Pacific island nation immediately north of Australia.

Pacific Pearl entered the public spotlight in October 2024, when Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape addressed concerns surrounding the recently launched casino project.

In a statement issued on October 15th, 2024, Marape said the casino would be strictly regulated and primarily target expatriates, tourists and high-income Papua New Guineans.

The government described the casino as a trial initiative intended to attract international visitors, retain gaming expenditure within the country and generate employment and tax revenue. Marape said at the time that access by local residents would be subject to income, identification and membership requirements.

Nguyen said Fortuna was taking a phased approach to the project, with Phase 1 designed to lay the groundwork for the company’s long-term development in Papua New Guinea’s emerging gaming market.

“We are taking a long-term view of PNG,” he said. “The current casino is Phase 1 and is intended to establish the operation and develop the market.”

A larger second phase is planned once the initial operation is performing successfully and the market has been proven. Nguyen did not disclose its expected scale, investment or development timetable.

“For us, Pacific Pearl is not just about opening a casino,” Nguyen said.

He added that Fortuna aimed to create local employment, train Papua New Guinean staff and introduce international standards in casino operations, customer service, responsible gaming and compliance.