Robbie's casino closes

Robbie's casino closes

SYDNEY (DPA): The Christmas Island casino became the latest victim of the Asian regional economic downturn Saturday when Australian authorities moved to close it down after its operator missed a deadline for debt repayment.

The Australian authorities, which administer the tiny Indian Ocean island some 300 kilometers west of Java, gave the Indonesian owners of Christmas Island Resort (CIR) a Friday deadline to repay 2 million Australian dollars (US$1.2 million) owned to sacked staff and creditors.

CIR, controlled by Indonesian clove cigarette king Robbie Sumampow, did not meet the deadline and so is almost certain to lose its operating license.

CIR, Christmas Island's biggest employer, has been battered by the regional downturn, first losing many of the big-time gamblers that came out on scheduled flights from Jakarta and then losing the air service itself.