SYRIA: Uncertainty reigns over mysterious Damascus casino
A gambling casino opened Christmas Eve in the Syrian capital without much fanfare. But as patrons have started to pour in, it has begun to stir controversy among pious Syrian Muslims who view gambling as sinful.
Plans to open the Ocean Club casino on the highway next to Damascus International Airport largely fell under the Syrian media's radar. Now members of Syria's parliament are beginning to grumble. They're seeking to have the casino closed and questioning its legal status and whether it has government support.
The Ocean Club was packed to capacity on opening night, reportedly taking in 38 million Syrian pounds, or about $800,000. Despite calls to have it closed down, the casino remained in operation as of Sunday night, with a steady stream of patrons beginning early in the evening.