NEWS & NOTES

Maryland Senate President Mike Miller last week shot down any chance of a tax increase on gaming revenue during the Annapolis Summit moderated by radio show host Marc Steiner. Maryland’s casinos already pay the highest rates in the country, Miller said. Casinos in Maryland must contribute a portion of their earnings into the state’s Education Trust Fund. Currently, 15 percent of table proceeds go to the fund while the percentage of slots revenue varies from casino to casino, according to Maryland Lottery and Gaming. Another 5 percent goes to local impact grants.  •  The Independent reports that British MP and Brexit Secretary David Davis made US$1,228 betting on the U.K. leaving the European Union. According to the newspaper, the minister was being questioned about a poll which suggested voters did not trust the so-called “three Brexiteers”—-Davis, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox. “Polls are not that reliable,” Davis told LBC Radio. “I was in this studio on referendum day with Iain Dale, referendum night, and the polls at that point were telling us there’s going to be a 10-point advantage to ‘Remain.’ So I put some money on, and it’s still paying my office’s drinks bills. I made a grand.”  •  Macau’s Chinese New Year Parade will be held January 30 and February 4, the third and eighth days of the Lunar New Year. The event will include float parades and a fireworks display, among other attractions. The parade is being organized by the Macau Government Tourist Office.  ?  Hong Kong-listed gaming services company Success Dragon International has terminated its deal with a slot club at the One Opera Hotel in Danang. The club is one of two that has “encountered difficulties” getting business certificates; the second club was planned for the Le Meridien Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City; that agreement is being renegotiated.  ?  The Philippine government will investigate local offices of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes, saying billions of pesos in revenues have been lost to non-payment or under-payment of taxes. Only 10 percent to 15 percent of total revenues were reportedly remitted from local offices to the PCSO under the previous administration.  ?  Budget carrier Tigerair Taiwan, a subsidiary of Taiwan’s China Airlines, soon launch service between Taichung and Macau to give people in central Taiwan a more convenient way to get to the gaming mecca. Tigerair announced it will operate one round-trip flight per day on the route starting March 29.  ?  MGM China Holdings Ltd. will award a “discretionary bonus” to eligible non-management team members, the Macau-based subsidiary of U.S.-based MGM Resorts International has announced. The bonus, equivalent to one month’s salary, was described as a way to “share the company’s success with the team members.” Melco Crown has announced a similar bonus, to be paid out before the Chinese New Year.  ?   Estonian gaming operator Olympic Entertainment Group has established and registered a subsidiary in Malta. Olybet Malta Ltd. plans to develop a legal platform for the expansion of OEG’s remote gaming operations.  ?  Spas of America last week named the Spa at Pala Casino Spa and Resort in San Diego County, the third best spa in North America and the best spa in California and the national casino industry for 2016. The honor was announced in the annual rating of the Top 100 Spas in North America. This is the highest rating Pala spa has achieved and marks its 11th year in being ranked in the Top 100 in North America and in the Top 10 in California.  •  Twin River will present a rough draft of its plans for a border casino in Tiverton, Rhode Island to that city’s planning board. The casino on 45 acres was approved by state and local initiative, but its plans still require approval by the panel. The local voter approval was very narrow, and opponents are not giving up. They plan to show up in force at the planning board and raise concerns. The casino will have 1,000 slots and 30 gaming tables.  •  Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. a developer, owner and operator of casino gaming and entertainment casino resort facilities in Asia, has announced a special dividend of $60 million, or 44 cents per share, to be paid on February 10 to shareholders. From now on a dividend will be paid quarterly. Melco CEO Lawrence Ho said, “We currently have a significant level of free cash and more than US$1.2 billion available credit lines.  MCE also continues to generate very significant operating cash flow.  Given these factors, we believe that we can return a meaningful amount of capital to investors now, and in the future, while still retaining significant flexibility to pursue value accretive opportunities.”  •  The government of Zimbabwe is seeking help with modernizing its state lotteries from Eagle Press Pvt. Ltd., which is based in India. The nation’s Home Minister Ignatius Chombo reportedly flew to in Chennai, India, to meet with the company’s officials. He told the press: “We are here to discuss ways of revamping the State Lotteries and Gaming Board whose income has dwindled and is technically non-functional.” Eagle Press provides gaming services, including top security printing, to over 40 countries.  •  Tioga Downs Casino, the first of four full-scale gaming facilities authorized in New York state, generated $5.1 million in gross gaming revenue in its first month of operation, according to a report filed with the state Gaming Commission. The tally comes as del Lago Resort & Casino speeds toward a February 1 opening in the state’s Finger Lakes region and the Rivers Casino & Resort gets ready to open near Schenectady on February 8.