With Sands China Probe, Singapore Looks at AML Crackdown

Singapore is considering strengthening KYC protocols for casino customers following the revelation that the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating anti-money-laundering regulations at Marina Bay Sands (l.)

Published June 15, 2020

Sands China Shores Up Balance Sheet

The Macau gaming giant is selling US$1.5 billion of fresh debt to help carry it through the pandemic. The company generated only $9 million in casino revenue in April,...

Published June 8, 2020

Century Shelves Cambodia VIP Deal

Gaming company Century Entertainment has ended its licensing agreement with Crown Resorts to run a VIP room at the Genting Crown Casino (l.) in Poipet, Cambodia.

Published June 8, 2020

Korean Operator Sales Down by Half in May, But Up Month on Month

South Korean casino operator Paradise Co. Ltd. saw its May casino numbers plummet 51.2 percent year-on-year. But month on month, Paradise saw an improvement. It runs four foreigners-only casinos...

Published June 8, 2020

Suncity Ups Stake in Philippine Unit

Hong Kong-listed Suncity Group has announced plans to significantly increase its share in Philippine subsidiary SunTrust from 51 percent to almost 75 percent. Suncity plans a bond issue to...

Published June 8, 2020

Korean Casino Backs Off Reopening Plan

Kangwon Land, the only South Korean casino that lets locals gamble, has tabled plans to reopen its main gaming floor following a sudden increase in Covid-19 cases in the...

Published June 8, 2020

No Word Yet on Manila Casino Openings

Last Monday, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte gave the OK for many businesses to reopen throughout the country, but there’s no word yet on when casinos, including Melco’s City of...

Published June 8, 2020

Singapore Casinos, Government Collaborate on Reopening Plan

Officials with Resorts World Sentosa (l.) are working closely with Singapore government officials on a plan to safely reopen. Last month, Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry cleared a...

Published June 8, 2020

For Macau, Normalcy at the Borders Is Elusive

In good news for Macau, the mainland Chinese city of Chongqing is issuing individual travel visas again. But there’s still no word on when the system will extend to...

Published June 8, 2020

Silver Heritage Lender Appoints Receivers

The lender for Hong Kong-based gaming company Silver Heritage Group has appointed receivers to “ensure continuation of the underlying business while strategic options are being explored.” Silver Heritage runs...

Published June 1, 2020

Tokyo High Prosecutor Out in Gambling Scandal

Hiromu Kurokawa (l.), head of the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office, has resigned after admitting he ignored social distancing rules to play mahjong for cash with reporters.

Published June 1, 2020

Singapore Shutdown Continues

Singapore’s two casinos, Resorts World Sentosa (l.) and Marina Bay Sands, will remain closed beyond June 1, according to the local Casino Regulatory Authority. Most other businesses in the...

Published June 1, 2020

South Korea’s Kangwon Land to Reopen June 4

Kangwon Land, the only casino in South Korea where locals can play, has pushed back its reopening to June 4 due to a spike in Covid-19 cases in the...

Published June 1, 2020

MGM China Secures Fresh Credit

The Hong Kong-listed operator of two Macau casinos has opened a new revolver good for HK$2.34 billion with an option to increase it to $3.9 billion. The funds are...

Published June 1, 2020

Could Saipan Casino Close for Good?

Imperial Pacific International, which operates the sole casino resort (l.) on the island of Saipan, says it may be forced to close it permanently if it doesn’t get more...

Published June 1, 2020

Survey: Macau High-End Still Gambling Big

A privately conducted poll of more than 100 visitors, most of them deep-pocketed Chinese from the mainland, indicates high rollers are staying longer at casino resorts (Galaxy Macau VIP...

Published June 1, 2020

Silver Heritage Nears Insolvency

Last week, Australia-listed casino operator Silver Heritage Group Ltd. announced that it was “insolvent” or “likely to become insolvent at some time in the future.” The culprit, as usual,...

Published May 25, 2020

Suncity Licensed in Vietnam

Suncity Group Holdings has received a license to operate its Hoiana integrated resort in central Vietnam. In a statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the company said the...

Published May 25, 2020

Melco Uses Pause to Upgrade in Macau

Melco Resorts & Entertainment in Macau is taking advantage of the industry slowdown to step up renovations at its Studio City integrated resort. Phase 2 of construction at the...

Published May 25, 2020

Covid-Free Macau Waits for Borders to Reopen

With no new cases of the coronavirus in more than a month, it appears the world capital of casino revenue has the contagion under control. The question now is...

Published May 25, 2020