NEWS & NOTES

On June 6, Macau health authorities recently called for a mandatory 14-day quarantine for people who have traveled to a number of neighboring districts in Guangzhou and Foshan due to new Covid-19 cases there. Starting June 8, people entering Macau from Guangdong were required to hold a Covid-negative certificate. ● One of the industry’s award events, Gambling Insider’s Global Gaming Awards, has come under fire because of a lack of diversity on its judging panel, which includes one woman and no blacks among 52 judges. Women in the industry voiced their dismay via the professional network LinkedIn. The nonprofit All-In Diversity Project posted: “The women reading this will know what’s wrong with these pictures. And yes, it’s from 2021.” ● Japan’s Kyushu IR Promotion Council held an online seminar this month to promote an integrated resort (IR) as a way to boost tourism. The proposal is part of efforts to win one of Japan’s first three IRs in Sasebo, Nagasaki. KIRC Chairman Yutaka Aso said an IR “is an ambitious theme for Kyushu. We want it to lead to strengthening the economy and creating a main flow into the tourism business.” Another seminar is planned for November. ● Macau junket operator Suncity Group has announced that it’s offering a voluntary resignation program to encourage employees to “reshape” their life plans. Galaxy Entertainment Group has also offered employees a similar voluntary resignation program, offered by the company in response the economic downturn caused by Covid-19. ● Melco Cyprus, operator of Cyprus Casinos in the Mediterranean, will open a dealer school this summer. The company runs a temporary casino in Limassol and satellites in Nicosia, Ayia Napa and Paphos. Its integrated resort, City of Dreams Mediterranean, is scheduled to open in Limassol in the summer of 2022. ● Hong Kong-listed NagaCorp has confirmed that it’s made substantial staff cuts at Cambodian integrated resort NagaWorld. NagaCorp reportedly laid off around 600 employees due to financial hardships brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. NagaWorld’s been closed for more than three months due to the nation’s worsening pandemic situation. ● Macau tourism authorities and gaming operators have offered RMB110 million (US$17.2 million) in tourism promotions to travelers in Shanghai. The incentives include plane tickets, hotel accommodations, dining certificates and other tourism products to bring more tourists to Macau. ● The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has confirmed that the Boring Co.’s $52.5 million people-mover transit system has passed its capacity tests. Tests were conducted in 20-minute intervals and indicated that the system handled 4,431 passengers per hour. Boring had promised in its contract that it would deliver 4,400 passengers an hour. ● Three months after its grand opening, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas threw a second party to celebrate. The four-day “Unstoppable Weekend” party was headlined by Christina Aguilera and this time, patrons were able to attend sans the masks and social distancing that were still mandated back in March. ● Melco Resorts and Entertainment will launch a series of residency shows at its Studio City property in Cotai, Macau. Asian artists set to perform include Aaron Kwok, Joey Yung and Leon Lai. ● Diaoyutai MGM Hospitality Ltd., a joint venture between China’s Diaoyutai State Guesthouse and MGM Resorts International, will develop new hotels featuring MGM branding in Guangdong Province in Mainland China, next door to Macau. One hotel will be in Zhuhai, the city nearest to Macau, and three will be in Shenzhen, across the border from Hong Kong. ● Two casino projects in South Korea can have more time to develop foreigner-only casinos if they increase their funding commitment by 5 percent. Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment and R&F Korea will be given until June 2025 and March 2024, respectively, to complete their projects with the additional commitment, reports GGR Asia. Mohegan has pledged KRW1.8 trillion (US$1.6 billion) to complete its Inspire Casino, and RFKR has pledged KRW800 billion (US$150 million). • The Luxor on the Las Vegas Strip will be the new venue for the stage version of America’s Got Talent, which is taking over Luxor Theater. The stage adaptation of the NBC show opens November 4, running twice nightly, five nights per week. The show is a partnership between MGM Resorts International, Syco Entertainment and Fremantle Production, suitable for all ages. ● The Cowlitz Indian Tribe, operator of the ilani Casino Resort in Washington State, has donated about $300,000 to various Cowlitz and Clark County nonprofits. The $300,000 amount is what the tribe would pay in 2021 property taxes if its lands were not sovereign Indian land. Tribal Chairman Philip Harju stated, “The tribe is committed to give back more to the community than we take.” • Graton Resort & Casino in Northern California has been awarded the AAA Four Diamond Rating in honor of the amenities in its 200 premium hotel rooms, including full-service spa, outdoor pool and top of the mark dining. The resort is owned by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. Only 6.3 percent of the hotels that AAA evaluates earn the Four Diamond designation.