Greece could begin the tender for the country’s first major integrated resort casino in September, while dodging old claims of illegal state aid to government-run casinos.

Last week, the Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) announced the launch of a public consultation on the terms of the sole casino license at the proposed €8b integrated resort at Athens’ former Hellinikon airport. Interested parties have been asked to submit their comments and proposals before September 10.

The Greek regulator has been under pressure to commence the tender, given the government’s expectations for the mammoth project’s ability to jumpstart the country’s ailing economy. It’s been four years since an international consortium signed a 99-year land lease and the government is itching to realize the thousands of jobs the project is expected to create.

Progress on the resort, which will include hotels, theme parks, conference and exhibition facilities and a whole lot more, is also a key condition of the government’s ongoing financial bailout from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.