The town currently considered the destination for this grand project, Ontiñena, believes that the land sale will go through and work will start on the building of Casinos and hotels in the coming year.

However the past prediction was that work would start by September of this year and yet so far the land has still not been finally purchased. Hundreds of farmers and land holders have delivered their land deeds for inspection, under the assumption that these will be included in the purchase. But typically for Spain, numerous deeds are proving to have irregularities, which the town hall is having to sort before delivering them.

Meanwhile skepticism grows in the public mind about the reality of the project, about the financial clout of ILD (International Leisure Development), and about the feasibility of planting an immense project like Gran Scala in a dessert in the middle of nowhere. Political murmurs are increasing and demanding that the ILD put their money where their mouths are. And yet still no land is purchased.

But hey, Christmas is around the corner, and if you care to believe it this time, the ILD is saying that this year there`ll be more than just a turkey on the table. Meanwhile we'll wait and see...