NEWS & NOTES

Philippine police recently arrested 265 Chinese nationals who were operating an illegal offshore gaming operation in Metro Manila. The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. applauded the raid, which came after increased efforts to step up action against non-registered offshore gaming operators, now termed as NOGOs. • Cambodia’s cabinet, led by Prime Minister Hun Sen, reportedly met this month to discuss long-awaited laws on anti-money laundering, terrorism financing and counter-proliferation financing, the Phnom Penh Post reports. Cambodia and 11 other countries were added to the EU’s list of countries that “pose significant threats” because they’ve failed to tackle money laundering. In February 2019, Cambodia was relisted on the “grey list” of the Financial Action Task Force, a decision Cambodia called “unfair.” •   Hong Kong-listed Melco International Development Ltd., parent of Melco Resorts and Entertainment Ltd., has suspended its “semi-annual dividend” program due to “current conditions.” By doing so, Melco Resorts could conserve about US$80 million in capital per quarter. • Air traffic at Reno-Tahoe Airport International Airport is down about 95 percent, according to airport authority CEO Marilyn Mora. “It could possibly be years to get our passenger counts up to where we were before,” she said. On a recent typical day, about 500 passengers were outbound, compared to 5,500 on the same day last year. • The government of Laos has lifted travel restrictions to allow people to travel freely around the country, though entertainment venues including casinos will remain closed until June 1. The country’s lockdown began on April 1. • Osaka Prefecture in Japan is preparing to lift coronavirus restrictions in the area. Movie theaters, libraries, schools and universities will reopen, along with commercial operations. Gaming and entertainment facilities, such as pachinko halls and internet cafes with a total floor space of 1,000 square meters or less, are also allowed to reopen. But nightclubs and concert venues must remain closed. • Bloomberry Resorts Corp., operator of Solaire Resort and Casino in Manila, has granted 10.7 million shares to some directors and staff under its stock incentive plan. The largest single grant went to President and COO Thomas Arasi, who got nearly 3.5 million shares. Cyrus Sherafat, executive VP for casino marketing, was granted just over 1.1 million shares. • Hong Kong is considering an electronic self-certification system to exempt residents from two-way quarantine rules when they visit and return from Macau or China’s Guangdong Province. Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee said the system would indicate health risks based on known contact with Covid-19 patients and travel history. • The MSG Sphere at the Venetian construction site, dormant since mid-April, will not resume activity any time soon. The $1.66 billion 17,000-seat entertainment venue being built east of the Sands Expo and Convention Center now has an undetermined completion date and likely will not be finished by 2021, say company executives. • The Seneca Nation has made “the difficult but necessary decision” to reduce monthly per-capita payments for tribal members from $800 and $700 to $500. The reduction will go into effect beginning in July and remain in place through the end of the fiscal year in September, said Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong. Seneca elders and people with disabilities will not see their checks drop. • Lone Star Park in Texas is one of several racetracks that will be able to reopen after Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive allowing simulcast facilities and racetracks to reopen May 22 at 25 percent capacity. Other racetracks in the country have reopened, but without crowds. The last race conducted in Texas was on March 22. • The Casper, Wyoming City Council has changed zoning rules that will allow for more casinos to operate in more parts of the city. The city began considering the changes after a company that wants to operate pari-mutuel wagering approached the city. • Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport is deploying vending machines selling personal protective equipment. The machines, located in the Terminal 1 ticketing area and near the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint in Terminal 3, offer disposable masks, including KN95 masks, reusable cloth masks for adults and children and a variety of liquid hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes.