NEWS & NOTES

The Macau government hopes that package tours from Mainland China to the SAR could resume “soon,” which will provide support for local small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and small-scale hotels, says Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong. Golden Week, the Chinese national holiday, starts October 1, and is one of the peak travel seasons for Mainland Chinese. ● The Philippines’ infectious diseases task force has recommended ending outdoor mask mandates and limiting such mandates indoors. The country’s Department of Health points to recent studies showing a direct correlation between the easing of mask policies and rising tourism numbers in jurisdictions such as Singapore. Since the easing of Covid restrictions, international travel to the Philippines has returned to around 70 percent of 2019 levels. ● Construction is ongoing at Resorts World Hudson Valley in Newburgh, New York, and the 90,000 square-foot facility is expected to open before the end of the year. The casino will not feature dining or a hotel, but Meghan Taylor, Resorts World’s vice president of government affairs, told Mid-Hudson News that the company hopes that decision is “going to be a catalyst to drive redevelopment here at the mall.” Once complete, the casino will provide about 250 jobs and bring in about $3 million in annual tax revenue. ● The upcoming two-year renovation of the Las Vegas Convention Center, which is slated to begin in March of next year, has already increased in projected costs by $20 million, bringing the total to $620 million. The increase, according to project developers, is due to the addition of new meeting rooms and executive suites. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has said the added expenses are still within the acceptable range that was originally planned. The Governor’s Oversight Panel will now meet October 12 to discuss the updated proposal. • Grupo CIRSA has become the exclusive operator of Morocco’s Casino de Tanger, a hotel and casino complex in North Africa. CIRSA already operates two casinos in Agadir, Morocco. This, says CIRSA, makes it the country’s largest casino operator. It operates 150 venues globally, mainly in Spain and South America. • The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLGC) has announced a new self-exclusion program, an expansion of its PlaySmart responsible gaming program. It enables players to schedule renewable breaks from playing from three months up to five years. OLG Senior Vice President, Brand, Communications and Sustainability Alexandra Aguzzi commented, “My PlayBreak is just one of the RG tools in OLG’s sophisticated and unmatched PlaySmart portfolio that is integrated across multiple product lines to help customers create and maintain healthy habits that enable a lifetime of sustainable play.” • Metropolitan Gaming has sold its South African casino properties to bolster its growth in the U.K. The move comes after the London-based company purchased 11 properties in the U.K., Egypt and South Africa from Caesars Entertainment last year. This June it added Park Lane Club London. The divestment, said Metropolitan CEO Michael Silberling, will allow the company to focus on “core markets.” He said, “Following the addition of the iconic Park Lane Club to our portfolio of casinos in the UK earlier this year, the sale of our interest in Emerald Resort and Casino reflects our focused strategy to invest in and develop the business within our primary markets.”• Hard Rock International announced it is spending over $100 million to give significant raises to 10,000 non-tipped workers, most of them in the U.S. The raises, which include an immediate increase to a minimum starting salary of $18 to $21 an hour, are designed to help employees deal with persistent inflation, and to help the company attract and retain top talent. Some salaried workers will receive increased merit raises as well. • A series of cinematic RNG casino games starring British football and film star Vinnie Jones has launched with the release of Vinnie Jones Roulette. It is the premier title in Real Dealer Studios’ series of games featuring the iconic tough guy, available during a period of exclusivity on Betway. Set in an upscale, members-only club, the game stars Vinnie in the role of VIP dealer.