Suncity Plans Expansion Into Branded Hotels

As part of an aggressive strategy to diversify beyond VIP gaming in Macau, Suncity is looking to capitalize on investments in resort casinos cross Asia with its own hotels.

Published May 10, 2021

Macau’s Grand Lisboa Preps for Limited June Debut

SJM’s long-awaited arrival on Cotai is at hand. But the doors of Grand Lisboa Palace (l.) will open on just a handful of the $5 billion resort’s full complement...

Published May 10, 2021

Philippines Warns Public of POGO Dangers

The Philippines Labor Department has warned job-seekers about illegal recruitment by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators. Some POGOs have been known to kidnap errant employees and hold them for ransom.

Published May 3, 2021

Singapore-Hong Kong Travel Bubble Finally Set to Launch

This month, Singapore’s casinos will be welcoming players from Hong Kong for the first time in more than a year. The reconnection will start slowly, however, with a single...

Published May 3, 2021

VinGroup Opens US$2.8 Billion ‘Super-Tourism’ Complex in Vietnam

Vietnam developer VinGroup has officially launched its new US$2.8 billion resort in Phu Quoc. The “super-tourism entertainment complex” includes 12,000 hotel rooms plus a casino and other attractions.

Published May 3, 2021

Saipan Casino License Yanked

Casino operator Imperial Pacific International, promoter of the sole casino on the island of Saipan, has confirmed that its gaming license in the jurisdiction has been suspended. And CNMI...

Published May 3, 2021

Wakayama, Japan to Choose IR Operator This Month

Wakayama Prefecture in Japan will soon name its integrated resort partner. The local government received bids from two candidates: Suncity Group Holdings Japan and Clairvest Neem Ventures of Tokyo.

Published April 26, 2021

Most Jeju Casinos Closed

The closure of the Gongzi Jeju Casino (l.) in Jeju, South Korea leaves only two gaming halls operational on the island. Due to Covid-19, Gongzi Jeju is the sixth...

Published April 26, 2021

Japan Pachinko Biz on the Slump

In March, the end of the 2020-21 fiscal year, more than 100 of Japan’s famous pachinko parlors closed up shop. About 700 of the gambling venues have closed since...

Published April 26, 2021

Cambodian Border Town Closes Casinos

Gaming halls in the Cambodian border town of Bavet have been ordered to close to contain a new outbreak of Covid-19 infections. Casinos in the city attract a large...

Published April 26, 2021

SkyCity to Sever Junket Relationships

SkyCity Entertainment of New Zealand will no longer work with junket operators, opting to deal with patrons on a one-to-one basis. The move may have been inspired by Crown...

Published April 19, 2021

Macau, China Look to Ease Travel Obstacles

Talks are under way between authorities on both sides of the Macau-China border that could lead to eliminating the requirement for mainland visitors to present negative Covid test results.

Published April 19, 2021

Manila Casinos Still On Lockdown

Last week, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte lifted some of Manila’s Covid-19 countermeasures, putting the city in “modified enhanced quarantine” until April 30. But the city’s casinos remain closed for...

Published April 19, 2021

Macau in Line to Test Digital Yuan

Development of an electronic version of China’s currency is proceeding with increasing speed and Macau will be one of the test locations. For Macau’s gaming industry the changes will...

Published April 19, 2021

Casino Workers’ Group Enters Macau Legislative Race

The Macau Power of Gaming Association, representing employees at various casinos in the territory, has gathered the required signatures and will campaign for a seat in September’s Legislative Assembly...

Published April 21, 2021

Sri Lanka Moves Forward on Billion Dollar Development

Sri Lanka's Economic Commission will regulate gaming activities and license procedures in light of a $1.4 billion project (l.) by the state-owned Chinese engineering firm.

Published April 21, 2021

Japan Casinos Won’t Offer Pachinko or Roulette

Japan casino regulators have announced the nine types of casino games that will be permitted inside the nation’s casinos. Traditional games like pachinko, pachislot and mahjong aren’t on the...

Published April 21, 2021

Korean Tourism Fell to a Trickle in February

Tourism to South Korea fell 90.4 percent year-on-year in February with few travelers coming through Incheon Airport (l.). There were massive declines in visitation from China and Japan, the...

Published April 21, 2021

Osaka RFP Attracts No New Bidders

Osaka, Japan reopened its RFP process in hopes of luring new developers to build an integrated resort there. It didn’t work; the partnership of MGM Resorts and Orix Corp....

Published April 21, 2021

Macau’s Casinos Finish Strong in March

Macau gaming revenue topped US$1 billion in March. It was a 58 percent improvement over March 2020 and the second straight month of year-on-year increases.

Published April 21, 2021