Tigre de Cristal a Hit in Far East

An increase in tourism to Russia’s Primorye region has been attributed in part to the October debut of Lawrence Ho’s new integrated resort near Vladivostok. Visitation to the area...

Published January 11, 2016

What’s Behind Greek Mythology Closure?

Casino Greek Mythology in the Taipa section of Macau, which abruptly closed without notice December 30, is under renovation and will reopen, according to Ambrose So, executive director and...

Published January 11, 2016

IP Saipan Down in Second Month

Imperial Pacific’s temporary casino (l.) on the island of Saipan generated $1.44 billion in December, down 11.7 percent from November, when the temporary casino launched VIP gaming.

Published January 11, 2016

Flameout in South Korea?

Six months ago. 34 gaming companies were lining up to bid on a pair of South Korea gaming licenses. That number has dwindled to just six amid concerns that...

Published January 4, 2016

Macau Slump Drags Into 2016

GGR in Macau through November 2015 dropped 35.3 percent year-on-year, according to figures released by the city’s gaming regulator last month. Though the recession shows no sign of abating,...

Published January 4, 2016

Tinian Dynasty Remains Closed

The shuttered Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino in the Marianas Islands did not reopen as planned December 15. Dynasty’s general manager said the opening was postponed because there are...

Published January 4, 2016

More Traffic at RWS

More visitors are coming to Resorts World Sentosa. Patronage jumped almost 20 percent in third-quarter 2015, according to analysts. The good news is tempered by a drop of about...

Published January 4, 2016

St. Regis Macao Opens

The five-star St. Regis Macao Hotel opened December 18 on Macau’s Cotai Strip. A project of Sheldon Adelson’s Sands China Ltd., the hotel has 400 rooms and suites and...

Published January 4, 2016

Cambodia Casino Bill Stalls

Cambodian officials say a bill to regulate the country’s casino industry, due for approval in late 2015, is now expected to pass the country’s National Assembly in the first...

Published January 4, 2016

IPIM Takes on Macau MICE

Starting in November, the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute will handle promotions for the city’s meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions business. IPIM will take over from Macau Economic...

Published January 4, 2016

Japan Still Pushing Casino Bill

Japan’s long-delayed casino bill could now be on track for passage in late 2016. If that happens, supporters hope integrated resorts can open in for the 2020 Olympic Games....

Published January 4, 2016

Entry Fee for Philippine Casinos?

The Philippine National Tax Research Center says it supports an entry fee of PHP3,500 (US$74) for all Filipino casino visitors; a tax on lottery winnings; multiple taxes for horse...

Published January 4, 2016

Mass Market in Danger as China Eyes Bank Card Transactions

Macau casino shares took a dive earlier this month on news that Mainland China will take a closer look at the illegal use of bank debit cards, especially the...

Published December 21, 2015

Wynn Weighs In on Cotai

The grand new Wynn Palace (l.) on Macau’s Cotai Strip will open 90 days later than originally planned, June 25 instead of March 25. The builder lost out on...

Published December 21, 2015

Tinian Dynasty Casino Reopens

The Tinian Dynasty Casino in the Northern Mariana Islands has reopened while undergoing a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. Parent company Hong Kong Entertainment Investments owed more than $258 million...

Published December 21, 2015

Too Many Casinos in S. Korea?

Is South Korea’s casino industry growing too fast to be self-sustaining? Maybe not, says a professor of economics at Seoul National University. Two casinos are now planned for the...

Published December 21, 2015

Singapore: No Interest in Gaming Expansion

Marina Bay Sands (l.) and Resorts World Sentosa have contributed up to 2 percent to Singapore’s gross domestic product and created some 20,000 jobs, according to reports. But the...

Published December 14, 2015

Macau Crunch Easing?

Analysts predict gross gaming revenue in Macau could see a year-on-year decline of up to 28 percent for the month of December. Hard to believe, but that’s actually good...

Published December 14, 2015

South Korea Sales Down in November

Gaming revenues at South Korean casino operator Paradise Co. Ltd. dropped 16 percent year-on-year for the month of November. Recent arrests in Mainland China may be partly responsible for...

Published December 14, 2015

IP Wins Big on Saipan

Imperial Pacific’s temporary casino on the island of Saipan generated $1.63 billion in its first full month of operations, the company has announced. The temporary casino opened at the...

Published December 14, 2015