The Hong Kong-based Galaxy Entertainment Group is to open its mega casino resort in Macao's Cotai island next year, local media reported Tuesday.

The Macao Post Daily quoted Francis Lui Yiu-tung, director of the group's gaming concessionaire, as saying that the operation phase of the gaming project will start in the third or fourth quarter of next year.

The Galaxy Mega Resort will comprise 450 gaming tables, 1,000 slot machines and 1,500 guest rooms, according to the newspaper.

Macao, with a population of 500,800, has a 150-year history of gaming industry and is the only part of China where casino gaming is legitimate.

The city has currently 25 casinos, five of which are run by the Galaxy Entertainment Group.