Phase one of the Estonian casino island to cost EEK 300 million

Toomas Hõbemägi

Märt Sults who want the city to build an artificial island off the Tallinn coast and move all casinos to the island wants to borrow EEK 300 mln.

Eesti Päevaleht writes that Sults has already sent a letter to Mayor of Tallinn Edgar Savisaar asking the city government to support the plan to borrow 300 million kroons from German banks to pay for phase one of the casino project.

Sults said that the whole project would cost EEK 1.4 billion and would involve building three artificial islands, one for children, one for culture and one for adult entertainment including casinos.

All islands would be connected by bridges, but people who want to enter the casino island would have to pay a hefty fee.

Sults says that he needs the loan to pay for the environmental impact assessment and make other preparations with the project such as starting a detailed plan.

“Tallinn belongs to the people of Estonia and our mission is to keep and protect it and turn it into a world city,” Sults wrote in his letter.

Deputy mayor of Tallinn Eha Võrk said that the city government cannot give approvals for foundations to borrow money or order environmental impact studies. “Before we can support the project the foundation needs to request preparation of a detailed plan and submit corresponding documents,” she said.