NEWS & NOTES

Cirque du Soleil will return to the Las Vegas Strip with “O” at Bellagio, an event that will the subject of a documentary film. “O” is expected to return by July 4, but “Mystere” at Treasure Island might be first to reopen. ● A new family-focused water park at Studio City in Macau will open May 22, according to promoter Melco Resorts and Entertainment. The water park is part of Phase 2 of development at the Cotai resort, which is also increasing its room inventory by 60 percent and adding gaming space, a multi-screen cinema, restaurants and meeting space. ● Major League Baseball has introduced a new daily sports-betting show, streaming on MLB.tv. “Bettor’s Eye” hosted by Keith Irizzary will run down odds and lines and offer analysis from handicappers and other guests. ● Wynn Macau has announced that it will be the title sponsor for the three-week Qingdao-Macao International Offshore Race 2021, or Wynn Cup. The 1,200-nautical mile race will embark from Qingdao, sail via Ningbo, Xiamen, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and finish in Macau. ● The Countdown hotel at City of Dreams Macau is closed for renovation and rebranding. It will reopen as the five-star, all-suite Libertine, according to casino investor Melco International Development Ltd. ● Australia’s Star Entertainment Group can pursue an AU$43 million damages claim against a Singapore businessman who refused to pay his gambling debts. The Queensland Supreme Court cleared Star to go after Wong Yew Choy, who lost the money in 2018. A court in Singapore denied Star’s request, saying that nation’s Civil Law Act specifically denies the enforcement of gambling debts accrued in foreign jurisdictions. ● Australia and New Zealand have agreed to a travel bubble starting April 19, allowing citizens to travel between the countries without quarantine. “Those undertaking travel on either side of the ditch will do so under the guidance of flyer beware,” Prime Minister Jacinda Adern warned. “People will need to plan for the possibility of travel being disrupted if there is an outbreak.” New Zealand’s tourism industry went from nearly a million tourists in 2019 to virtually zero in 2020.