PAGCOR Too Generous, Senator Says

When the Philippines government hit Manila’s new megaresort licensees with corporate income tax, PAGCOR responded by reducing their license fees. Not everyone is happy about that, and Senator Joseph...

Published September 15, 2014

SJM in Labor’s Sights

A workers rights group representing dealers and casinos floor staff has gone to the Macau government in a bid to bring SJM Holdings to the bargaining table over pay...

Published September 15, 2014

LVS Eyes South Korea

Las Vegas Sands likes South Korea’s resort gaming potential and has identified a site in Seoul where it would build something on the scale of Marina Bay Sands. LVS...

Published September 8, 2014

Macau: Revenue Down, Labor Costs Up

Macau’s casino boom is hitting stiff headwinds, with revenue down year on year for a third straight month and no rebound in sight before early next year. At the...

Published September 8, 2014

Hollywood Coming to Macau

Talk about star power, how about Robert De Niro (l.), Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt together in a film directed by Martin Scorsese? That’s the plan as Melco Crown...

Published September 8, 2014

Vietnam’s Locals Ban May End Soon

The Vietnamese government is crafting new casino regulations for the prime minister’s approval, and it’s expected they’ll include provisions for opening the industry for the first time to the...

Published September 8, 2014

Entry Fees Proposed in Philippines

A lawmaker in the Philippines wants the country’s citizens to pay Singapore-style entry fees to enter casinos. The bill is aimed at protecting those who can least afford to...

Published September 8, 2014

Jeju Governor Halts Genting Casino

The new governor of South Korea’s popular resort island of Jeju, Won Hee-ryong (l.), has stopped Genting’s planned casino hotel from breaking ground. He’s concerned the island has too...

Published September 8, 2014

India Awaits Critical Poker Ruling

Authorities in India differ on whether poker and rummy are games of skill or gambling games, and the Supreme Court to expected to issue a ruling that could be...

Published September 8, 2014

Tokyo Watchers Spy Fishy Casino District

Tokyo’s Tsukiji district (l.) has emerged as a contender with Odaiba as the preferred location for a super-casino in the Japanese capital. James Murren is among those who’ve toured...

Published August 25, 2014

Chui Vows to Rein In Gaming Growth

As Macau Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On (l.) breezes to re-election, the priorities he’s unveiled for his second term don’t look so good for gaming. The industry’s growth...

Published August 25, 2014

South Korea: Integrated Resorts Welcome

With an eye on the booming Chinese tourist market the government of South Korea wants more large-scale resort casinos, like the planned Paradise City (l.), a partnership of Korean...

Published August 25, 2014

Galaxy: 8,000 Job Openings for Phase 2

Galaxy Entertainment has put out a big “Help Wanted” sign. In a tight labor market beset by rising staff costs the Macau casino giant says at the end of...

Published August 25, 2014

Profits Soar at Sands China

Macau casino giant Sands China said net income rose 45.7 percent in the first six months of the year on the back of strong mass-market revenues. Parisian Macao, meanwhile,...

Published August 25, 2014

Labor Group Targets SJM

SJM Holdings is the latest Macau casino operator to draw outdoor protests by a labor group representing casino workers. A bigger demonstration was in the works last week with...

Published August 25, 2014

Solaire Expansion Nearly Complete

Manila’s Solaire Resort and Casino will be more than twice as big before the year is out. Entertainment City’s first destination casino will be offering more hotel rooms, retail...

Published August 18, 2014

Macau Slowdown Hitting the Mass Market

Analysts are rethinking their forecasts for the second half as growth in Macau’s vaunted mass market appears to slowing down. Events in China were thought to be affecting only...

Published August 18, 2014

South Korea Moves to Spur Casino Investment

The government of South Korea and President Park Geun-hye (l.) is looking to drive more tourism and more development in the gaming resorts that attract it. Plans are to...

Published August 18, 2014

Theme Park Operator in Japan Casino Talks

The company behind Osaka’s Universal Studios Japan theme park (l.) wants in on the country’s prospective casino boom and is looking for partners for one or more license bids...

Published August 18, 2014

Labor Peace Costing Macau Casinos Plenty

Mass protests by labor groups are forcing Macau’s casinos to raise their compensation packages as they struggle at the same time to retain staff in the midst of an...

Published August 18, 2014