China to Legalize Digital Yuan and Outlaw Competitors

The People’s Bank of China has drafted a law to legalize the digital yuan which will also make competing digital currencies illegal. The action comes as the central bank...

Published November 2, 2020

Primorye Casino is 90 Percent Complete

The NagaCorp casino (l.) in Russian’s Primorye territory is nearly completed. Its progress was halted for a time by delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Published November 2, 2020

Macau Recovery Gathers Momentum

The decline in gaming revenues for October is expected to fall in the 70 percent range compared to the same month last year. That’s a vast improvement over September’s...

Published November 2, 2020

Goa Casinos Reopened November 1

Closed since March 14 due to Covid-19, casinos in the Indian states of Goa and Sikkim received government permission to reopen November 1 at half capacity. While the nation's...

Published November 2, 2020

Philippine Casinos Await OK for Online Gaming

Government regulator PAGCOR is considering the reform to help casinos recover from a five-month Covid-related shutdown. The industry reopened in August but continues to labor under stringent limits on...

Published November 2, 2020

Macau Lawmakers Grow Antsy Over Re-Tendering Plans

With no word to date from the government on its plans for renewing or re-bidding the gaming concessions that are set to expire in 2022, time is becoming a...

Published November 2, 2020

Widus Delays Philippines Expansion

Expansion of the Widus Hotel and Casino complex (l.) in Clark Freeport Zone has been delayed until the end of next year.

Published October 26, 2020

Troubles Mount for Struggling Saipan Casino

Imperial Pacific Saipan has been hit with a second complaint by regulators for failing to make good on financial commitments and could have its license suspended. An unpaid contractor,...

Published October 26, 2020

Vietnam Looks to Clear Path for Resort Investment

Lawmakers are considering a government-backed plan that would allow developers to count infrastructure spending against the US$2 billion they’re required to invest to secure a gaming license. The Van...

Published October 26, 2020

Covid Snarls Financing in South Korea

It’s reported that a funding crunch related to the pandemic has slowed progress on the big-ticket resorts Caesars and Mohegan Gaming are developing in the Incheon special economic zone....

Published October 26, 2020

Singapore, Hong Kong Agree on ‘Travel Bubble’

The details are still being worked through, but unfettered visitation between the two jurisdictions should in effect by the end of the year. Singapore (l.) is looking for similar...

Published October 26, 2020

On the Mend in Macau

An increase in daily gaming revenues since the Golden Week holiday (l.), through far below last year’s levels, appears nonetheless to be holding firm. With individual tourist travel restored...

Published October 26, 2020

Former Chinese Casino Advisers Convicted

Two men associated with a Chinese gambling operator seeking to enter Japan's gaming market, received prison sentences for bribing a Japanese lawmaker. Masahiko Konno and Katsunori Nakazato gave $72,000...

Published October 19, 2020

Kangwon Land Reopens Again in S. Korea

Kangwon Land (l.), the only casino for South Korea nationals, resumed operations October 12 under restrictions. The property has been closed for long stretches of time due to the...

Published October 19, 2020

China Outlines Plans to Develop Horse Racing

The Chinese government has published a five-year plan to develop horse racing. The plan could mean that the Jockey Club’s HK$3.7 billion facility (l.) in Conghua could be major...

Published October 19, 2020

Yokohama Restarts Casino Bids

Less than a year after securing proposals from six prospective operators, the Japanese city says Covid-19 has made a second RFC necessary. The pandemic also will delay by at...

Published October 19, 2020

Japan, Auckland, Show Signs of Post-Covid Progress

Pachinko Halls in Japan reported signs of a recovery in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a government survey. But more needs to be done. Meanwhile in...

Published October 12, 2020

NagaCorp Sees Full Recovery Ahead for Cambodian Flagship

The company reports that both mass-market and VIP volumes have shown sizable increases since its NagaWorld casino (l.) in Phnom Penh reopened in July. Compared to where things stood...

Published October 12, 2020

Singapore Wants Foreign Tourists Back

Singapore Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung (l.) recently concluded an agreement with Japan to readmit business travelers and is looking to negotiate more wide-ranging travel bubbles with “safe nations”...

Published October 12, 2020

Jeju Dream Tower Scheduled to Open Before End of 2020

The promoter of Jeju Dream Tower (l.), a resort featuring a foreigner-only casino located on the South Korean holiday island of Jeju, plans to open the facility before the...

Published October 12, 2020