NEWS & NOTES

Angela Leong, former managing director of the Macau concessionaire SJM Resorts, has transferred her 10 percent of shares to her successor, Daisy Ho. Ho was appointed to comply with a new gaming law requiring all managing directors be locals and hold 15 percent of the concession-holding entity. Daisy Ho’s sister, Pansy Ho, was recently named managing director of MGM China’s concession-holding subsidiary, MGM Grand Paradise. ● Kazuo Okada will continue his fight to regain control of Philippines integrated resort Okada Manila with the help of high-profile lawyer Attorney Rico Paolo R. Quicho. Okada took over the integrated resort in May and ousted its board, but was recently indicted on allegations he used force to do so. The former board and executives have since been restored. ● The court battle between former casino mogul Steve Wynn and the Justice Department is now over, after a federal judge in Washington, D.C. dismissed the DOJ lawsuit on October 12. According to the ruling, Wynn cannot be forced to register as a Chinese foreign agent, due to the fact that his relationship with the Chinese government ended in 2017, after he delivered a message to then-President Donald Trump asking him to extradite political activist Guo Wengui. A representative from the Justice Department said that the department is currently mulling its options for appeal. ● On October 6 at approximately 11:40 a.m., a stabbing spree occurred on the Las Vegas Strip just outside of Wynn Las Vegas, leaving two dead and six more injured. Yoni Barrios, a 32-year-old Guatemalan native, posed to take a picture with a group of women dressed as showgirls, before brandishing a 12-inch kitchen knife and attacking all who were nearby. Injuries included stab wounds to the neck, back and chest. Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said he is seriously considering pursuing the death penalty for Barrios—a ruling will be handed down within 60 days. ● ESPN owns 4 percent of DraftKings. As they say, that’s a start. It’s no secret that the network wants a major sportsbook to form a partnership. And that 4 percent stake makes DraftKings look like the winner. Indeed they are close to signing a deal, according to MSN. Whoever it is, the network hopes to get a $3 billion payment and an agreement to rebrand the book to the ESPN name. Disney CEO Bob Chapek says it’s a high priority. • The Belgian Gaming Commission has announced the extension of the Excluded Persons Information System (EPIS) to retail gaming. The system allows players to sign up to self-exclude from gambling for a certain period of time. One they are in the system they can’t change their minds until that period runs out: usually at least six months. Casinos are not allowed to send promotional materials during that period. Tom de Clercq, president of the Belgian trade association Bago, said of EPIS: “If we want to fight gambling addiction effectively, this is the way to go.” • GameCo and Green Jade Games of Malta have reached an agreement to merge and form a new company to be called Green Jade Group. The goal is to have a commanding presence in the differentiated-games category, including slots, table games, crash games and arcade games. The merger should enable the new entity to meet growing demand in North America and Europe. Green Jade Group will have five game production teams, and access to more than 600 casinos. Jesper Kärrbrink will be CEO, Robert Montgomery will be chairman and Benedict McDonagh will be COO. • The Ione Band of Miwok Indians announced a partnership with Warner Gaming and the two are embarking on a new entertainment project in Plymouth, California, about 40 miles east of Sacramento. The gaming compact signed with the state allows for the Ione Band to develop a gaming facility on the Tribe’s sovereign trust lands and allows for Class III gaming device operation, card tables, and off-track wagering on horse races. No plans on when the project would entail or when it would be completed.