Controversial Casino

A SUPERCASINO, which has been labeled as controversial, was approved back in 2007, by Jordan’s Prime Minister, Marouf al-Bakhit. However, it was reported that he has publicly denied responsibility for this contract; a deal which violates Jordanian law.

The deal was approved, despite the justice minister warning that it could violate Jordanian law, which forbids gambling. The terms of the deal also require it be kept confidential, violating a Jordanian law which demands that real estate deals be disclosed to the public.

The casino agreement, between the Jordanian government and Oasis Holding Investment, has been previously reported. However, documents obtained by Al Jazeera Transparency Unit, include private correspondence between Bakhit and then-tourism minister Osama Dabbas. It reveals the extent of Bakhit’s foreknowledge; the documents include a September 2007 letter signed by the prime minister which authorises Dabbas to sign the casino deal. Nor was Bakhit’s the only Jordanian government to push through a casino deal. Faisal al-Fayez, the current speaker of parliament, approved two casino licenses while he was prime minister in 2003. One of them has never before been publicly reported.

Corruption has been one of the main issues behind the slowly-escalating popular protests in Jordan. Many Jordanians describe the casino deal — negotiated behind closed doors by well-connected businessmen — as a microcosm of the country’s broader problem with corruption.

The prime minister has denied any knowledge of the inner workings of the 2007 casino deal, in effect saying that Dabbas acted on his own.
Bakhit was cleared of any wrongdoing last month following a parliamentary inquiry, as were 13 other members of his cabinet. Parliament instead chose to blame Dabbas: 86 MPs voted in favor of his indictment during a June hearing.

“He was not informed either by the tourism minister that the agreement he was authorised to sign include[d] a license to set up two casino[s], nor were the terms and conditions of the agreement explained to him before the signing,” an account of Bakhit’s testimony reads.

The casino contract should have brought in steady revenue, but it could now do just the opposite: The decision to cancel the contract could eventually cost the Jordanian government millions.