NEWS & NOTES

NagaCorp, operator of NagaWorld in Phnom Penh, says 93 percent of the floor space in the resort’s third phase of expansion will be devoted to non-gaming amenities. In the group’s annual report, Chairman Tim McNally said the expanded resort will have about 5,000 hotel rooms, 1,300 gaming tables and 4,500 electronic gaming machines. “It is also anticipated that Naga 3 will include many non-gaming attractions to draw a more diversified tourist audience,” he said. ● The new shopping mall at Lisboeta Macau will be known as H853 Fun Factory. The “H” refers to the word “home,” while 853 refers to 80 percent local brands, five exclusive attractions and “three different space-time journeys under the sky light.” Lisboeta Macau will offer dining, art exhibits and cultural experiences plus a zipline attraction, indoor skydiving and more. ● Macau health officials have announced that people attending dining events with more than 200 others must present negative Covid tests, and the diner list must be kept for 28 days for possible tracking. The new requirement is in response to the high risk of viral transmission following a spike in infections. ●   DJ Kaskade has won an $8 million lawsuit against a subsidiary of Red Rock Resorts. The court ruled that FP Holdings, owned by Frank Fertitta III and Lorenzo Fertitta owed the DJ (real name Ryan Raddon) compensation for unpaid performances at the Palms club Kaos, which abruptly shut down in November 2019. The judge said the Fertittas could have offered alternative venues. ● United States-based Capital Group Companies has disposed of 19.45 million shares in Macau casino firm Wynn Macau Ltd. The exercise cut Capital Group’s long position in Wynn Macau Ltd to 5.73 percent from 6.10 percent. Macau casino stocks fell sharply last week in the Hong Kong market as Mainland China announcing stricter countermeasures against Covid-19. ● The number of international visitors to Singapore is on the rise as the markets prepares to open up its borders to all vaccinated travelers. Figures from the Singapore Tourism Board indicate there were 68,000 international arrivals in February and about 57,000 in January, for a year-on-year increase of 273 per cent and 144 per cent respectively. ● Cambodia and Vietnam have announced some easing of rules for inbound travel by foreigners. Cambodia’s Ministry of Health said fully vaccinated travelers no longer need a negative Covid test result. Vietnam’s Ministry of Health said foreigners are required to take Covid tests, or be tested within 24 hours of entry. South Korea has also dropped its quarantine requirements for international arrivals, as have Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. ● The Wakayama assembly has approved the local government’s plan to bid on an integrated resort (IR) in the Japanese prefecture. April 28 is the deadline for local governments to submit their proposals to the national government. Up to three IRs will be allowed nationally to start, with the possibility of more after seven years. Currently, Nagasaki and Osaka also plan to submit applications to host a casino resort. ● Austrian supplier and casino operator Novomatic AG has no business in Russia, either as a venue operator or gaming supplier. The company made the statement in response to an inquiry by GGRAsia into whether the group has any footprint in the Primorye entertainment zone near Vladivostok. Novomatic issued a statement saying it has “not sold gaming equipment to the Russian market over the past years,” and as no license to operate gaming venues in Russia and therefore does not operate venues in Russia.” The supplier added that it complies with all national regulations, including the sanctions imposed against Russia over its invasion of the Ukraine. • The Tahoe Biltmore in north Lake Tahoe, opened in 1946, will close its doors for good on April 30. The property will be renovated and rebuilt before opening in 2025 under a new name. The famous giant tee-pee at the Biltmore will be removed and preserved, and the new property will display a gallery of pictures from the Biltmore’s history. • A board meeting to determine whether the casino license of Saipan’s Imperial Pacific International LLC will be permanently revoked has been postponed until May. The Commonwealth Casino Commission had previously planned to hold discussions in March to determine IPI’s fate, but the date has now been delayed by two months after the casino operator requested additional time to fly its legal team out from the United States. The commission’s executive director, Andrew Yeom, filed five complaints against IPI, related to IPI’s failure to pay regulatory and license fees. • A new sign has been erected in front of the former Bristol Mall in Bristol, Virginia that will house a new Hard Rock Casino. Officials say that they hope to get the casino open before July and they are still working hard to fill vacant positions. On top of revenue, the new casino is expected to bring up to 1,000 jobs to the area. The sign reads, “Bristol Casino. Future Home of Hard Rock.” ● A permanent DraftKings sportsbook will open this week at Casino Queen in East St. Louis, Illinois. The 6,000-square-foot state-of-the-art retail book debuts March 29, and will include a 60-foot video wall, dozens of high-definition televisions, a VIP area and more than 30 betting kiosks. ● In Indiana, the Terre Haute Board of Zoning Appeals recently voted 4-0 to approve Churchill Downs Inc.’s request for a 25-foot zoning variance to build a 150-foot-tall hotel at the Queen of Terre Haute Casino Resort. Churchill Downs Senior VP Ryan Jordan said, “The height, given the location, was our effort to make it visible and attractive to people riding down Interstate 70. He said the company does not anticipate any issues with the FAA and could receive approval by May 9.