“LiC.K.” Buys Pharaoh’s Palace

A buyer identified as “LiC.K.,” who has purchased Macau Legend Development’s Pharaoh’s Palace Casino (l.) in the MSAR, is actually Li Chi Keung, a shareholder who holds a 12...

Published April 4, 2016

218 Arrested in Macau Casino Scam

Law enforcement in Guangdong Province have intercepted an internet and telecommunications scam that resulted in the theft of RMB140 million (US$21.5 million). The thieves set up bogus casino websites...

Published April 4, 2016

Is the Japan Casino Bill Completely Dead?

Japanese media are reporting that a 30-member team in charge of Japan’s casino bill is about to be dissolved. If that’s true, it could mean the legislation supported by...

Published March 28, 2016

Volatility Continues in Macau

Gross gaming revenues for a recent week in Macau, extrapolated for the year, suggested a continuing decline in the 15 percent to 17 percent range. But asset management firm...

Published March 28, 2016

New Vladivostok Casino Figures Released

Opened since October 8, 2015, the Tigre de Cristal casino (l.) in Vladivostok, Siberia posted a net loss through December 31 due to pre-opening expenses. But the operation, owned...

Published March 28, 2016

Banyan Tree Wins Support in Vietnam

Singapore resort developer Banyan Tree Holdings plans to open a casino in Laguna Lang Co integrated resort complex in Thua Thien-Hue, Vietnam. The project has the support of Minister...

Published March 28, 2016

Jimei Heading to Sihanoukville

Junket runner Jimei International is planning a resort in Sihanoukville on the Cambodian coast. Jimei is reportedly partnering with local developer Yeejia Tourism Development and general contractor MCC International...

Published March 28, 2016

Philippines Could Add Casinos to AML Laws

Philippine gaming regulator PAGCOR is open to adding casinos to a list of entities that are covered by anti-money laundering laws. Recent reports put the country at the top...

Published March 28, 2016

Philippines Responds to Money Laundering Reports

Teresita Herbosa (l.), the head of the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission, supports a push to make casinos subject to the country’s anti-money laundering laws. Recent reports put the...

Published March 21, 2016

Macau: World’s Worst Economy?

Macau once was the global mecca for high-rolling gamblers, but a recession that will soon enter its third year has changed all that. Now U.S. broadcaster CNN has dubbed...

Published March 21, 2016

IP Prepares for Saipan Opening

Freed from its cash-draining alliance with a Macau junket operator, Hong Kong-listed Imperial Pacific looks with high hopes to the opening of its new permanent casino in Garapan, on...

Published March 21, 2016

Neptune Struggles to Rebuild Business Model

Macau’s junket businesses are working to remake their business models in response to the loss of high-roller business in the MSAR. A report from gaming promoter the Neptune Group...

Published March 21, 2016

Did Suncity Violate Philippine Election Laws?

Macau junket operator Suncity has been caught up in a scandal surrounding the Philippine presidential election. The company allegedly made donations to presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe (l.) in...

Published March 21, 2016

Fitch: New S. Korea IRs May Not Be Best Bet

South Korea’s planned casino resorts may have a hard time making a go of it with a foreigners-only policy. Fitch Ratings says IRs like the one planned by U.S....

Published March 14, 2016

Macau Ready to Disappoint in March

Gross gaming revenue in Macau is likely to be down appreciably after the Chinese New Year, according to forecasts. The discouraging news came from Sanford C. Bernstein, which said...

Published March 14, 2016

NagaCorp Seeks Name Change

NagaCorp Ltd. will ask shareholders to approve a new name for the company based on the Cantonese phrase “kam kai,” which means “gold world.” NagaCorp operates NagaWorld (l.) in...

Published March 14, 2016

Philippines a Hub for Money Laundering?

The U.S. State Department has listed six Asia-Pac destinations as “countries/jurisdictions of primary concern” in its 2016 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report. Topping the list is the Philippines, where...

Published March 14, 2016

Taiwan Island Nears Gaming Referendum

The Taiwanese island of Penghu could hold another referendum on legal gaming. Reports indicate a petition could have enough signatures to move forward on the issue, but a similar...

Published March 14, 2016

No Decision on Goa Riverboats

The Indian state of Goa is still weighing where to relocate offshore casino operations on the Mandovi River. The government had set a deadline of March 31 to remove...

Published March 14, 2016

Genting Malaysia Doubles RW Budget

Genting Malaysia investors got a “negative surprise” when they learned the global gaming company has more than doubled its budget for an overhaul of its Resorts World complex outside...

Published March 14, 2016