Kazuo Okada Group Forced Out in Manila; PAGCOR May Sell Casinos

Federal police and regulators from PAGCOR last week stormed Okada Manila (l.) and restored the original board to power, just three months after a group led by allies of...

Published September 5, 2022

Court Lifts Stay on IPI Casino Equipment Auction

A U.S. District court has lifted a stay on the auctioning of casino equipment owned by Imperial Pacific International to pay off some of its creditors. The stay had...

Published August 29, 2022

Philippine Group Announces Third Casino Resort

Officials at Philippine casino operator Bloomberry Resorts said the company will purchase 692 acres for a casino resort in Paniman, but won’t start construction until its Solaire North property...

Published August 29, 2022

Genting HK to Sell Stake in Manila IR

Failed cruise ship operator Genting Hong Kong will sell off its stake in a Philippines integrated resort. Manila’s Newport World Resorts was originally known as Resorts World Manila (l.).

Published August 29, 2022

GEG’s Woo: Galaxy ‘Well-Positioned’ to Win Macau Concession

Galaxy Entertainment Group Chairman Lui Che Woo (l.) says the Macau gaming operator is well positioned to earn a new concession in the Chinese casino hub. Concession terms have...

Published August 29, 2022

Ambrose So Reduces Stake in SJM Holdings

Ambrose So (l.), CEO and executive director of SJM Holdings, recently cashed in 30.02 million shares in the company, pocketing a total of US$11.1 million.

Published August 29, 2022

MGM China Boosts Its License Bid with Millions in Improvements

MGM China will invest $594 million in its MGM Grand Paradise subsidiary as part of the company’s bid to win a second gaming concession in Macau. MGM has also...

Published August 29, 2022

APAC Operators Look Beyond China for VIPs

Gaming operators in Asia Pacific countries and markets including Macau have come to the realization that they must look outside China for VIP and premium-mass players to fill their...

Published August 29, 2022

Melco Resorts: Running on Empty, But OK for Now

Even if it reaps zero revenues for 2022, Melco Resorts and Entertainment could keep going for two more years, according to a Singapore investment firm. Melco is reportedly in...

Published August 29, 2022

Trial of Suncity Boss Could Begin This Week

The trial of Suncity CEO Alvin Chau (l.), scheduled to begin Friday, could be delayed because other defendants are not physically present in Macau. Chau is charged with illegal...

Published August 29, 2022

Okada Takeover Case Goes to Appeals Court

The Philippine Appeals Court has been given 30 days to recommend whether Kazuo Okada can continue to run the Manila resort that bears his name. The Japanese gaming magnate,...

Published August 29, 2022

MGE Eyes Korean Opening in Late 2023

Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment says it’s on track to open its Inspire Korea resort (l.) in Incheon in late 2023. The complex will include a foreigners-only casino.

Published August 22, 2022

Macau Casinos Can Offer ‘Special Accounts,’ Sans Interest, to Players

Macau’s new junket law gives gaming operators the right to offer “special accounts” for customer deposits, but those accounts will not be able to yield interest.

Published August 22, 2022

Revised Tourism Tax Coming to Macau in 2023

Amendments to laws regulating the tourism tax in Macau were passed by a unanimous vote in the city’s Legislative Assembly on August 11, said Secretary for Economy and Finance...

Published August 22, 2022

South Korean Casino Operator Courts VIPs

South Korea’s Lotte Tour Development Co. is actively wooing VIP customers who may no longer wish to patronize casinos in Macau, according to COO Lawrence Teo (l.). The push...

Published August 22, 2022

Singapore Establishes Gambling Regulatory Authority

Singapore last week officially launched its Gambling Regulatory Authority. It replaces the Casino Regulatory Authority, but is headed by the same chief executive, Teo Chun Ching.

Published August 22, 2022

Covid Policy, Lagging Consumer Confidence Affect Macau

Analysts predict that travel to Macau will be back to near-normal by year’s end, but depressed consumer confidence in China will continue to affect gaming there. Some U.S. operators...

Published August 22, 2022

Macau Junket Boss Levo Chan Charged by Prosecutor

Levo Chan (l.), a former chief executive of Macau Legend and head of the Tak Chun junket, has been officially charged with criminal organization, illegal gambling and money laundering....

Published August 15, 2022

APG: Philippines Makes Progress on AML

The Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering is giving the Philippine casino industry better marks on anti-money laundering measures. It says the sector has “addressed gaps” in its supervision of...

Published August 15, 2022

South Korea Lures Casino Patrons with Visa-Free Entry

Trying to stoke foot traffic at South Korea’s foreigner-only casinos, the government has offered visa-free entry for travelers coming from Japan, Taiwan and Macau. Only one casino in the...

Published August 15, 2022