NEWS & NOTES

MGM China says the chance it will recover millions of dollars in losses from now-defunct junket operator Suncity is “remote.” MGM sought US$44.46 million in restitution after Suncity collapsed on charges of illegal gambling, a practice that effectively stole legal business from Macau casinos. Suncity head Alvin Chau was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Five of Macau’s six gaming operators claimed damages against Suncity, with MGM saying they were “victims of fraud and subject to tremendous loss.” ● Osaka, Japan, which has bid on an integrated resort (IR) license in the country, has pledged to increase the number of mental health institutions to deal with gambling addiction prior to the IR’s expected opening. The number of anti-addiction centers would rise from 25 to 60 by the end of 2025, officials say. ● Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands has won a 12-month extension, to April 2024, to begin a $3.3 billion expansion project that will add a fourth hotel tower, MICE facilities and a 15,000-seat entertainment venue. The completion deadline is now April 2028. ● Paradise Entertainment, a Macau-based developer of electronic gaming equipment, expects the new focus on mass market gaming to drive recovery in its casino management and EGM segments, which saw a US$21 million loss in 2022, though Casino Kam Pek Paradise, the satellite to which Paradise provides CMS, saw its gaming table allocation slashed from 49 tables to just 30 tables as part of its new three-year agreement with SJM Resorts. ● Australian operator Crown Resorts announced March 27 that it was contacted by a ransomware group who claimed to have gained access to some of the company’s files. Crown was one of many companies—over 100—who were affected by a global data breach from the file transfer firm GoAnywhere. In a statement, the company said that it is “investigating the validity of this claim as a matter of priority,” but could confirm that “no customer data has been compromised and our business operations have not been impacted.” ● The Strat appears to be the latest Las Vegas property to start charging for parking, according to signs recently posted at the entrance to its self-parking garage. The casino’s parent company, Golden Entertainment, did not respond to a request for comment from the Las Vegas Review-Journal, but an employee in the reservations department said that the first two levels of the garage will remain free, with the upper levels charging varying fees based on walking distance from the elevators. Per the sign, different rates will apply for Monday through Thursday and Friday through Sunday. ● Rush Street Interactive and the Connecticut Lottery Corporation Monday announced a joint plan to wind down their online and in-person sports betting partnership in Connecticut. CT Lottery will immediately look for a replacement. No reason was given for the breakup