Osaka Pushes Casino RFP to the New Year

Japan’s first foray into the integrated resort industry has been tabled until 2021, with Osaka hoping to get its request-for-proposal (RFP) process in motion starting sometime in January. MGM...

Published December 14, 2020

Singapore Casinos Welcome Locals Vouchers

To boost domestic tourism, the Singapore government is giving adult residents up to 100 dollars each to spend on local attractions, including the city-state's two casinos. Both Marina Bay...

Published December 14, 2020

Sizing Up Pandemic’s Massive Toll on Macau

The Macau government expects the year to end with total visitation of around 5 million. That’s down more than 85 percent from 2019. Not surprisingly, most of the visits...

Published December 14, 2020

Marina Bay Sands Hosts Hybrid Trade Show

The "first hybrid trade show," TravelRevive, took place at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, featuring presentation technology that combines in-person attendance with online participants. "Mixed reality" presentation technology is...

Published December 7, 2020

Local Authorities Against Revoking IPI’s License

Local officials in Saipan, in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands appear to reject the idea of revoking the license of Imperial Pacific International, operators of the Imperial...

Published December 7, 2020

South Shore Could Fold Following Shareholder Vote

A funds investor has called for unwinding the Hong Kong-listed developer behind Macau’s troubled luxury resort, The 13 (l.). The Cotai property, which never fully opened and never secured...

Published December 7, 2020

Pandemic Hits Japan’s Pachinko Industry

Japan’s pachinko industry has been hit so hard by the pandemic that many operators have had to suspend operations. Some have closed permanently.

Published December 7, 2020

Hotel Occupancy on the Rise in Macau

The key metric has climbed past 40 percent in another clear sign that momentum is building behind the market’s recovery from the Covid crisis. Visitation and gaming revenues are...

Published December 7, 2020

Fifth Korean Casino Closes Amid Covid Surge

Grand Korea Leisure has shuttered its Busan casino (l.) for at least two weeks to help with the government’s efforts to flatten a rising coronavirus curve. The closure comes...

Published December 7, 2020

Gambler-Friendly Tax Scheme Likely in Japan

Reports are the governing Liberal Democratic Party has moved away from an earlier proposal for withholding income tax from casino gambling winnings. The exemption is expected to be incorporated...

Published December 7, 2020

February Debut Set for Londoner Macao

Most of the themed megaresort that replaces Sands Cotai Central will be up and running in time for Chinese New Year, with more attractions rolled out as 2021 progresses....

Published December 7, 2020

Imperial Pacific International Fails To Pay Workers, Again

Troubles continue to pile up for Imperial Pacific International, operators of the Grand Mariana Casino Hotel (l.) in Garapan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The company failed to...

Published November 30, 2020

Junket Boosts Stake in Macau Legend

Tak Chun Group CEO Levo Chan (l.) has bought into effective control of the Hong Kong-listed casino operator, whose holding include two casinos in Macau. He is assuming the...

Published November 30, 2020

Hong Kong-Singapore ‘Travel Bubble’ on Hold

Limited tourist flights between the two cities have been postponed for at least a couple of weeks amid concerns in Hong Kong over a spike in Covid-19 infections. The...

Published November 30, 2020

Covid Fears Prompt Shutdown in Seoul

With new infections on the rise in and around the South Korean capital, municipal authorities have ordered the city’s four foreigners-only casinos to close, including the Walkerhill casino inside...

Published November 30, 2020

Proposed Referendum Muddies Yokohama’s IR Plans

The Yokohama government is all for a casino, but an opposition group has collected more than enough signatures to place the issue before the electorate. What it means is...

Published November 30, 2020

Lawyer Seek Jail for IPI CEO

A lawyer for plaintiffs suing Imperial Pacific International wants the company CEO jailed for contempt of court. Aaron Halegua seeks to have Donald Browne tossed into jail until the...

Published November 23, 2020

New Casino Restrictions Imposed in Seoul

The South Korean capital Seoul has been hit with a surge in new Covid-19 infections. The government has responded by ordering the foreigners-only casinos, including the Seven Luck Casino...

Published November 23, 2020

New Bidder Joins Nagasaki Casino Fray

There are now three groups vying for the right to develop a destination casino in the Japanese city. The latest is Tokyo tech conglomerate Pixel Companyz, which is partnering...

Published November 23, 2020

China Weighs News Restrictions on Outbound Travel

Authorities are concerned about a winter surge in Covid-19 cases and may soon be turning a critical eye on all “non-essential” travel outside the country. Whether that will include...

Published November 23, 2020