The casino is an investment of 17 billion euros and is expected to employ 180.000 people.
The contract with the American construction company owned by Sheldon Andelson provides for smoking to be allowed in casinos. The Community of Madrid is expected to have a 35% stake in the investment.
According to Cadena SER, the government wants to avoid reforming the law and would like to let autonomous communities legislate on the matter. Health Minister Ana Mato has in fact said she will not change the legislation. Communities could be given the power to allow smoking in appropriate sites. A first step in this direction has been to ask the Community of Madrid to draft a proposal.
According to media reports, Premier Mariano Rajoy directly assured in talks with Adelson that he would solve the issue at a meeting on May 27 at the Moncloa. Sheldon Adelson, one of the world's 30 richest men, funded Mitt Romney's campaign ahead of the last US presidential elections with us$ 70 million.