Samoa's first casino worries churches - Feb 2013

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Church groups in Samoa have raised concerns over plans to build the country's first casino.

Samoa will have its first casino in six months after two licences have been granted, one to beach resort, Aggie Grey's, and another to Chinese company ETG.

Reverend Maauga Motu, general secretary of Samoa's National Council of Churches, told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat less fortunate Samoans are likely to be hardest hit by the development of casinos.

"That's always the end result of playing games like this at the casino, they will always lose," he said.

"Our concern is that the social life of the people will be spoilt."

Robbie Kearney, chief executive of Samoa's Gambling Control Authority, says the casinos will create jobs for local people and attract tourism dollars to Samoa.

"Once we've reached the limits of what we can supply from the local Samoan population then the conversation will go to whether they can get visas to allow people to come in and work," he said.

"But their commitment in the first instance is to employ locals if at all possible."

The casino at Aggie Grey's beach resort will be built near the international airport in the capital Apia.

It will be housed over two floors in existing buildings, with 12 gaming tables and up to 85 gaming machines.

The second casino will include a 500 room hotel and a large casino complex with several restaurants.

Chinese company ETG are negotiating a lease for the second casino on Samoa's main island, Upolu.

Mr Kearney says local laws will be enforced to ensure the casinos do not admit patrons without a foreign passport or evidence they are staying at a recognised hotel or resort.

"The casino owner will allow that to happen and their peril because if we catch them we will take sanction action against them."