Japan IR Bill Advances

Japan is inching closer to passing an integrated resort bill that would legalize casino gaming in the country. According to analysts at CIMB Securities, Japan has a “70 percent...

Published July 6, 2015

Down with Macau

The bad news from Macau continues as the world’s premier gaming destination enters its second year of decline. Gaming revenue in the Chinese territory reached a near five-year low...

Published July 6, 2015

Mohegan Sun, Incheon Airport Get ‘Inspired’

The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, the Connecticut tribal gaming operator, and Incheon International Airport Corp. have finalized a concept agreement on the Inspire Integrated Resort, to be developed near...

Published July 6, 2015

Vietnamese Province Seeks Casino

The Vietnamese province of Thua Thien-Hue has requested that the country’s prime minister add its Chan May-Lang Economic Zone to a list of possible casino locations. Officials of the...

Published July 6, 2015

Philippine Airport Resort Under Way

Last week, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III attended the groundbreaking ceremony for an airport resort complex in Cebu at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (l.) that is expected to more...

Published July 6, 2015

Melco Crown Exits HKEx

As of last week, international casino operator Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. officially delisted from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company applied for the voluntary withdrawal in January; shareholders...

Published July 6, 2015

Macau Junket Operator Accused

Macau junket operator Cheung Chi-tai (l.) has been accused of laundering US$232 million through bank accounts in Hong Kong. The operator was once a major shareholder in the Neptune...

Published July 6, 2015

Thai Casinos: Official Support Grows

Thailand Finance Minister Sommai Phasee (l.) has joined the call for casino resorts in the country provided they are strictly regulated and located in resort areas. But almost 60...

Published June 29 2015

Chui: Smoking Ban Has Not Hurt Macau

Macau’s Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On (l.) says a partial smoking ban in the city’s casinos has had no impact on gaming revenues. The local government is considering...

Published June 29 2015

Grand Ho Tram Considers Vietnamese Gamblers

As the government of Vietnam considers opening casinos to residents, the Grand Ho Tram (l.), open since July 2013, looks forward to reaching a broader clientele. It can work...

Published June 29 2015

Grand Korea, Incheon Airport Sign MOU

Casino operator Grand Korea Leisure Co. Ltd. has inked a deal with Incheon International Airport Corp. to locate its new casino resort on a land parcel adjacent to the...

Published June 29 2015

Packer Losing in Macau, Manila

James Packer has bet big on Macau and the Philippines. Those wagers may not be paying off as he planned. Studio City in Macau may not get its required...

Published June 29 2015

Vietnam OKs New Phu Quoc Casino Site

The Vietnamese government and Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng (l.) has OK’d a new casino on scenic Phu Quoc Island, off the coast of Cambodia in the Gulf of...

Published June 29 2015

Galaxy a Non-Starter in Macau

The grand opening of Phase 2 of Galaxy Entertainment’s Cotai resorts may not move the needle in Macau. Gross gaming revenues for June are not expected to see a...

Published June 29 2015

China Crackdown Has No Borders

The government of China has warned other countries not to woo its gambling public. It has acted on that warning, arresting 14 casino marketing employees for allegedly trying to...

Published June 29 2015

‘Broken Tooth Koi’ Opens VIP Room

Former Macau crime boss Wan Kuok-koi (l.), aka “Broken Tooth Koi,” reportedly has opened a VIP gambling room in the city. He served a 14-year prison term for money...

Published June 29 2015

MGM’s $3 Billion Refi

MGM Resorts International has refinanced a credit agreement in order to complete its $2.9 billion resort now in development on Macau’s Cotai Strip (l.). The move increased the credit...

Published June 22, 2015

Thai Councillors Support Casinos

Twelve National Reform Council members in Thailand say the country would benefit from legal casinos. The group says revenues from legal gaming would draw new tourism and help the...

Published June 22, 2015

Bloomberry CEO: Let’s Build Another Manila Airport

Enrique Razon (l.), chairman and CEO of Philippines casino operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp. says he’s prepared to invest in a new international airport in Manila to augment tourism in...

Published June 22, 2015

Macau: No Casinos in Coloane

Macau Secretary for Economy and Finance Lionel Leong (l.) says officials have received no requests to build new casinos on Coloane island, a mostly residential area of the SAR....

Published June 22, 2015