Cambodian casino operator NagaCorp has broken ground on its $369m resort casino project in Russia’s Primorye gaming zone near Vladivostok.

Local news outlets recently carried photos of NagaCorp president Tan Sri Dr Chen Lip Keong presiding over a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Russian casino. NagaCorp chairman Tim McNally subsequently confirmed to GGRAsia that the first of the project’s planned three phases was indeed officially underway.

McNally said the project’s first phase, which the company expects to open “not later than 2018” had a budget of between $150m to $200m. Renowned Las Vegas casino architects Steelman Partners are guiding NagaCorp’s project, which a local Primorye news outlet said was using the working title of Seaside Entertainment Resorts City.

Lawrence Ho’s Primorye project is scheduled to open next month. The Tigre de Cristal property, which is being developed by the Ho-controlled First Gambling Company of the East, plans to open its first phase on Aug. 28 (although the project has a history of missing deadlines).