NEWS & NOTES

The recently completed Boring Co. Convention Center Loop in Las Vegas was put to the test last week, as an invitation-only group rode the dual tunnel transportation system. The event was designed to test the proposed 4,400-person per hour capacity of the system created by Elon Musk’s company. ●   While many integrated-resort initiatives in Japan continue to falter, Nagasaki continues to gather regional support and launch new initiatives in preparing for an IR. They include the formation of the Kyhu Addiction Measures Network Council, to address widespread concern among the Japanese about compulsive gambling.   ● The local government in Preah Sihanouk has imposed an overnight curfew, banned alcohol and prohibited gatherings outside of family groups in Sihanoukville due to a rise in Covid cases. The measures will be in place until June 6. Sihanoukville, on the southern coast, is one of Cambodia’s casino hubs. ● In a bid to hire more than 300 full-time and part-time employees, Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut has raised its starting hourly pay rate above the minimum wage and is offering double time for overtime. Starting pay for non-tipped, frontline positions will be at least $13.50 an hour, the casino said. Connecticut’s minimum wage rose to $12 an hour in September 2020 and is scheduled to increase to $13 in August. ● The Millenium Hilton Seoul Hotel, home of Grand Korea Leisure’s Seven Luck Casino, will be torn down and replaced by an office building. The move comes after the hotel was sold by CDL Hotel Korea to a domestic real estate fund manager. According to local reports, the hotel was sold due to a lack of business caused by the coronavirus. ● Resorts World Genting “temporarily closed” on May 24 until further notice in response to an order from the government. The closure was described as a Covid-19 countermeasure. The Malaysian casino complex had resumed operations February 16 after being closed for more than three weeks. ● Macau’s gaming concessionaires have undertaken internal vaccination drives. The move followed meetings between operators and the SAR’s Health Bureau to address low vaccination rates. Local news channel TDM reported that just over 85,700 people had received their first dose and fewer than 50,000 (7.8 percent of the population) were fully vaccinated against Covid-19. ● Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos has announced it has increased the starting pay rate for all non-tipped positions to $15 per hour. Many tipped employees will also see an increase in their starting rate varying by position, and other hourly and salaried staff will also receive a wage increase. “Harrah’s Cherokee is committed to being the employer of choice in Western North Carolina,” the company stated. “In this competitive job market, we are hopeful that the combination of a $15 per hour starting wage, an exceptional benefits package and hiring bonuses will help us recruit the top talent.” ● An attempt in the Nevada legislature to crack down on firearms in resorts and casinos is dividing Democrats in the Nevada statehouse, gun violence prevention advocates on one side and opponents of excessive policing on the other. A state Senate committee passed a measure last week to strengthen penalties and make it up to a “gross misdemeanor” to bring guns into certain resorts and casinos where they’re prohibited. Under current law, if an armed person refuses to leave, security can call local law enforcement for trespassing. • Sweden has extended temporary gaming controls, including a $600 deposit cap for online casinos, until November 14. The controls were put in place July 2020 with the intention to last less than a year. The government extended the controls due to rising levels of Covid-19. The gaming industry association Branschföreningen för Onlinespel (BOS) criticized the move, with CEO Gustaf Hoffstedt commenting, “It is only the black market that has reason to rejoice at the government’s proposal for continued restrictions for Swedish-licensed gambling companies.” • The Hellenic Gaming Commission of Greece has granted online licenses to Swedish-based Betsson AB, which offers online gaming products and plans to launch its Betsson brand in Greece in coming weeks. It was granted one license for sportsbook and another for games of chance such as casinos, slots and poker. Licenses are good for seven years. Greece is Betsson’s 18th local regulated market. Betsson President and CEO Pontus Lindwall commented, “The Greek gaming market has experienced significant growth over the past years, and we see a lot of potential.” • Lithuania’s parliament has approved a ban on gaming advertising and promotional bonuses effective July 1. Lawmakers voted to amend the Law on Gambling to ban gaming promotion through special events, test games, promotions, discounts and gifts. It applies to brick and mortar and online gaming. It is intended to help fight problem gambling and reduce the amount of money spent playing. Some forms of promotions, such as gifts, are already illegal. Last year gaming operators agreed to cease advertising during the first Covid-19 lockdown.