Macau authorities halt work on Caesars golf course

MACAU -- Macau authorities have halted construction by Caesars Entertainment on a private road to connect the company's golf course with one of the main roads on the Cotai Strip.

MacauBusiness.com reported the action earlier this week.

Caesars Entertainment, formerly known as Harrah's Entertainment, acquired the golf course in 2007 for $577.7 million, rebranding the facility as Caesars Golf Macau.

Originally, the casino bought the site with hopes the Macau government would allow for additional gaming licenses beyond the original six concessions and subconcessions. Currently, Las Vegas Sands Corp., Wynn Resorts Ltd. and MGM Resorts International, are the only American companies operating casinos in Macau.

Caesars Entertainment reportedly applied twice to build the road, but the government said it had denied both requests. The two-lane road has not been completed yet.

According to MacauBusiness.com, the construction included digging up a huge amount of waste that was afterwards stored in the open air, nearby the road.

Caesars Golf is located on a reclaimed land zone, at a site previously occupied by a garbage dump.

According to the website, the construction may have damaged the reclaimed land's impermeable membrane, allowing for some polluted water to flow out.

Caesars spokeswoman Marybell Batjer said the company is working with Macau government authorities "to resolve the relevant issues."