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

South Korea Construction Crew Fired

Guangzhou R&F Properties, the Chinese firm behind the development of a casino resort in Incheon, South Korea, has reportedly fired the entire construction force at the Midan City Resort...

Published April 5, 2021

Suncity Philippines to Sell Nongaming Assets

The Philippines subsidiary of Suncity Group, now planning an integrated resort project (l.) in Manila’s Entertainment City precinct, has announced the sale of its non-gaming assets to help fund...

Published April 5, 2021

Taxes Deferred for South Korea Casinos

The South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has offered a reprieve to casino operators battered by Covid-19. It will allow them to delay payment of sales taxes...

Published April 5, 2021

South Korean Operator Foresees ‘Arduous’ Prospects for ’21

Hong Kong-listed New Silkroad Culturaltainment, operator of the MegaLuck Casino at the KAL Hotel (l.) in Jeju, South Korea, says if business doesn’t pick up this year, its outlook...

Published April 5, 2021

Akimoto Pleads Not Guilty to Japan Corruption

At a March 29 hearing, former Japanese House of Representatives member Tsukasa Akimoto (l.) pleaded not guilty to charges of taking a bribe and paying off a witness.

Published April 5, 2021

Genting Singapore CEO Saw Compensation Drop by Half

Lim Kok Thay (l.), executive chairman of Genting Singapore Ltd., received less than SGD5 million (US$3.7 million) in compensation for full-year 2020, halved from the prior year, due to...

Published April 5, 2021

Another Player In Japan’s IR Race?

Officials in Aichi Prefecture, Japan say they have not ruled out bidding on an integrated resort in the region. Covid-19, which interrupted the slow-going process for a full year,...

Published April 5, 2021

Marina Bay Sands Probed Over High Roller Cash Transfers

Las Vegas Sands, owner of Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands (l.), has launched an investigation into millions of dollars in allegedly unauthorized wire transfers at the resort.

Published April 5, 2021

Weidner, Razon Square Off in Solaire Contract Dispute

William Weidner’s Global Gaming Asset Management is suing Philippine tycoon Enrique Razon’s (l.) Bloomberry Resorts, owner of Manila’s Solaire casino hotel. GGAM says its deal to run the casino...

Published April 5, 2021

SunCity Posts Profit for 2020

It was mostly gains from SunCity’s investments that allowed the Hong Kong-based junket giant to overcome a 67 percent decline in revenues and record net income for the year...

Published April 5, 2021

Macau Croupiers Call for End to Social Distancing

Labor groups say the one-meter social distancing rule has become unenforceable now that Macau’s gaming regulatory agency has rescinded last year’s Covid-induced ban on standing bets.

Published April 5, 2021

Macau Seeing its Best Tourist Numbers in a Year

Daily visitation to Macau is hitting visitor volumes not seen since the Covid crisis struck, and tourism officials are responding with plans for major promotional campaigns across China.

Published April 5, 2021

Incheon Casino Developer Gets One-Year Extension

Guangzhou R&F Properties Co. Ltd. has received yearlong extension to open a new resort (l.) in Incheon, South Korea, which it had been developing with Caesars Entertainment. It had...

Published March 29, 2021

Cambodian Casino Revenues Cut in Half

The Cambodian collected less than half of expected tax revenues from the nation’s 193 licensed casinos. The industry there was decimated by Covid-19, which caused widespread closures and reduced...

Published March 29, 2021

Korean Operator Accused of Skewing Survey

Lotte Tour Development is accused of manipulating a poll to suggest stronger support for its planned casino at South Korea’s Jeju Dream Tower (l.). The move would massively increase...

Published March 29, 2021

Macau Legend Forecasts Big Loss for 2020

Casino operator Macau Legend, which operates three casinos, including the Babylon (l.), says the Covid-19 pandemic battered the 2020 operations of its three Macau casinos. The company expects a...

Published March 29, 2021

Macau, China Talk Vaccine Travel Deal

Macau leader Ho Iat Seng (l.) said the casino hub hopes to reach agreement with mainland China on a policy exempting vaccinated cross-border travelers from having to produce negative...

Published March 29, 2021