Secretary for transport and public works Lau Si Io said yesterday that the Macau Studio City project won’t include a casino.

Mr Lau told reporters that the 2008 revised land grant for Studio City, which has never been made public by the government, doesn’t include gaming facilities.

Last month, Lawrence Ho, Melco Crown’s co-chairman and chief executive officer, said that Studio City would open with 300 to 400 gambling tables and 1,200 slot machines, pending government approval.

Melco Crown announced last month the signing of an agreement to acquire a 60-percent share in the development for US$260 million (MOP2.1 billion).