The mayor of Romanian seaside city of Constanta, Radu Mazare, is trying to find investors for the now derelict Casino on the city's pier. He recently went to Switzerland to meet several foreign investors and talk about the takeover possibility for the casino. Mazare went to Lugano, which hosts the largest casino is Europe.

“When I was there to visit, they were gambling EUR 26 million. I talked to the manager, who is a former Venice casino manager […],” said Mazare.

The trip helped him understand the gambling business better, he said. “For example there are specialized firms which bring on gamblers. I was talking to those who bring gamblers in, and they told me a person who gambles EUR 50,000 an evening is a small gambler, and a big gambler is the one who gambles half a million or a million euros a night,” said Mazare, quoted by Mediafax newswire.

“I think this industry could also work in Constanta and I think it would be beneficial to the Casino building, for the tourism and the hotels here. The story is rather complex. I hope to be able to organize it,” said Mazare.

Should he fail to attract foreign investors to revamp and open the Casino, the mayor intends to use EU funds, but in this case, he would have to re-direct funds from other projects, and the casino building could never host gambling activity, by EU laws.

Mazare, who is known for his eccentric outfits, said he made quite an impression in Switzerland, misleading many into thinking he was a big gambler: “I don't like gambling. But it is true, I was wearing long boots, bouffant trousers and a colored jacket, and everyone around me, the manager, those who bring in gamblers, were looking as if I was a hot shot, either willing to gamble millions, or to buy the casino,” said Radu Mazare.

Three years ago, Mazare said he was planing to sell the Casino in Constanta, as the firm which had the 49-year concession contract and which was planning to invest some EUR 15 million withdrew from the project because of the economic crisis. Later on, the Tourism Minister at the time Elena Udrea said the ministry wanted to take over the casino and revamp it, but later in March 2013, the Constanta mayor said EU funding will be used for revamping.

Local authorities are currently working on the needed paper work to access EU funds for revamping the casino, according to Mediafax newswire.

The Casino is an iconic building in Constanta, standing on the city's pier. It was erected with public money between 1903 and1910. Its architect was Daniel Renard, a Romanian architect of Swiss origins. The building’s official inauguration took place in 1911.

editor@romania-insider.com