Papua New Guinea is preparing to open a new chapter for its tourism and gaming industry. On August 26, 2026, the Pacific Pearl project, located in the Paga Hill Special Economic Zone in Port Moresby, entered the final phase of recruitment, equipment installation and inspections, with the goal of opening before the end of 2026, subject to final approval from the National Gaming Control Board (NGCB).
The satellite casino, whose construction began in October 2024, represents an investment of approximately PGK60 million and will be operated by Fortuna Investments. The first phase will include around 100 gaming machines, 20 tables, several VIP rooms, a restaurant, more than 100 parking spaces, daily draws and at least six types of table games.
Pacific Pearl’s General Manager is Kevin Wilcocks, who previously worked at Tiger Palace in Nepal and Big Daddy Casinos in Goa. Fortuna is led by Tim Shepherd, Senior Partner, alongside Martin Wright, Finance Partner; Tim Nguyen, Director of Marketing; Danny Ewing, Operations Director; and PH Chow, Director of Electronic Gaming. The casino forms part of the wider Paga Hill Estate SEZ, developed by Paga Hill Development Company, led by Gudmundur Fridriksson, with total investment potential of up to PGK10 billion and around 13,000 jobs once the broader development is completed.
Prime Minister James Marape
The opening is supported by the Gaming Control Act 2007, which established Papua New Guinea’s legal framework for casino gaming. The regulator is led by Imelda Agon, CEO and Registrar of the NGCB, with Clemance Kanau serving as Chairperson and Paul Ketombing as Chief Operating Officer. The fiscal model provides for approximately 30% of gaming revenue to return to the Government through the NGCB, including a Community Benefit Levy.
Prime Minister James Marape has backed the project as a tool to attract international tourists, expatriates and Asian visitors, while retaining spending that currently flows to destinations such as Cairns, Brisbane, Singapore and Manila. The ambition extends far beyond the initial opening, Fortuna is already considering a Phase 2 up to five times larger, with a permanent integrated resort incorporating a hotel, retail, dining and entertainment.
