IR Supporter Suga Now Japan’s PM

Yoshihide Suga (l.), elected September 14 as president of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party, has now succeeded Shinzo Abe as prime minister. Suga is expected to fulfill Abe’s plan for...

Published september 21, 2020

Hong Kong Jockey Club Sets Wagering Record

The grandstand at Sha Tin was all but deserted for the return of live racing earlier this month. But the city’s bettors were out in force.

Published september 14, 2020

IPI Chief Says Focus Is on the Future

Donald Browne, newly appointed CEO of Imperial Pacific International, says “word on the street” has it that the troubled Saipan casino operator could be replaced. “We can’t stand for...

Published september 14, 2020

Yokohama Mayor’s About-Face on IRs

Yokohama Mayor Fumiko Hayashi (l.), who has repeatedly claimed to be neutral on integrated resorts in the region, now says she feels “a sense of crisis” about the city’s...

Published september 14, 2020

With the Return of the IVS, Visitation to Macau Perks Up

After a Covid-induced hiatus dating back to January, the popular tourist visa program is slated for restoration across all of China this month. With the “Golden Week” holiday approaching,...

Published september 14, 2020

Centara Hotels Plans Mandalay Casino

Thai hospitality brand Centara Hotels & Resorts has signed three hotel management agreements for Myanmar. One will include a casino, the company says.

Published september 7, 2020

Deal to Sell 13 Hotel Falls Apart

The owners of The 13 Hotel (l.) in Macau thought they had a deal to unload at least 50 percent of the partially opened luxury resort, which lacks a...

Published september 7, 2020

In Manila, Landing Seeks New IR Site

Landing International Development Ltd. says it has been granted an extension by Philippines gaming regulator PAGCOR to the deadline for finding new land on which to develop a planned...

Published september 7, 2020

NagaCorp Looks for Growth in Cambodia

Hong Kong-listed casino investor NagaCorp, which runs the massive integrated resort NagaWorld (l.) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is scouting further growth opportunities in the country, specifically Siem Reap and...

Published september 7, 2020

HatchAsia Throws Lifeline to Silver Heritage

Philippines-based HatchAsia has proposed taking control of Silver Heritage and buoying the company with an AU$530 million (US$387 million) cash infusion.

Published september 7, 2020

Manila Casinos Back in Business

Some Manila casinos, including those in the Entertainment City economic zone, may resume operations at 30 percent capacity. Permission to do so was reportedly granted on August 24 by...

Published september 7, 2020

Macau August Win Down 94.5 Percent

It was the fifth straight month of year-on-year declines of more than 90 percent. But with travel restrictions easing and tourist visas set to resume across China later this...

Published september 7, 2020

Vietnam May Ease Cost of Entry for Gaming Ops

Casino investors looking at parts of Vietnam like the Van Don Economic Zone (l.) may soon get a cost break in terms of their capital investment. A proposed plan...

Published august 31, 2020

CNMI Rejects Saipan Operator’s Plea for Fee ‘Abatement’

Governor Ralph Torres (l.) of the Northern Mariana Islands has put Saipan casino operator Imperial Pacific International on notice that its gaming license could be suspended or revoked unless...

Published august 31, 2020

Macau Looks to Recovery, but Questions Linger

Now that China is issuing visas again for individual tourist travel hopes are mounting in Macau for a rebound in gaming revenues. It’s a safe bet they will, observers...

Published august 31, 2020

Despite Covid, Galaxy Committed to Japan

Galaxy Entertainment anticipates continuing headwinds from Covid-19 following a second-quarter loss, but remains committed to previous expansion plans, including its pursuit of an integrated resort license in Japan.

Published august 24, 2020

Pixel, Partouche Team Up for Japan IR

Japanese fintech firm Pixel Companyz and French casino operator Groupe Partouche will team up to bid on an integrated resort license in Japan. Partouche’s former partner, Oshidori, will remain...

Published august 24, 2020

New Hengqin Border Crossing Opens into Macau

A border checkpoint has opened between Macau and Hengqin Island, which could boost daily crossings into the gaming hub to more than 200,000 people a day. Potentially, the opening...

Published august 24, 2020

Japan’s Universal: Returns Up in First Half

Japanese gaming company Universal Entertainment Corp., which operates Okada Manila in the Philippines’ Entertainment City, saw an almost 25 percent increase in net sales for the first half of...

Published august 17, 2020

South Korean Casino on Track to Open in Fall

The Jeju Dream Tower, now in development on Jeju Island in South Korea, is scheduled to open in October 2020. The new resort will include a foreigners-only casino.

Published august 17, 2020