CNMI Demands Payment from Saipan Operator

Saipan lawmaker Edwin Propst (l.) has called for local gaming operator Imperial Pacific International to fork over some $US90 million it owes in past-due revenues to the government and...

Published January 6, 2020

New Year, Tempered Optimism in Macau

Could 2020 see a rebound in VIP play in Macau? Some analysts say yes. They point to a steadily improving macro situation in China as a potential positive, and...

Published January 6, 2020

Philippine Lawmaker: Do Casinos Fudge on Revenues?

Niña Taduran (l.), assistant majority leader of the Philippine House of Representatives, has asked Congress to review the tax compliance of casinos in the country, hinting they may be...

Published January 6, 2020

Cambodia Closes Dozens of Casinos In Wake of iGaming Ban

The Cambodian government is shutting down dozens of gaming houses in an effort to enforce a ban on online gaming enacted last year. Beijing is reported to have pushed...

Published January 6, 2020

Japan Lawmaker Arrested in Gaming-Related Corruption Case

On December 25, Tokyo prosecutors arrested Tsukasa Akimoto (l.), a Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker who has been pivotal in helping to develop the country's gaming policy. Akimoto is suspected...

Published January 6, 2020

Okada Manila to Host Seven Live Poker Tourneys in 2020

PokerStars’ schedule of 21 live international tournaments will include seven events at the new PokerStars Live room at Okada Manila (l.) in the Philippine capital. The new venue replaces...

Published December 23, 2019

Japan: Osaka Can Wait, Hard Rock Presses Hokkaido

In the Japan IR race, lawmakers in one potential jurisdiction, Osaka (Yumeshima Island at left), have conceded they may have to wait until after the 2025 World Expo to...

Published December 23, 2019

In Macau, China’s Web Tightens

In contrast with troublesome Hong Kong, Macau’s loyalty to Beijing is bringing a host of financial and economic policy rewards from the central government. Gaming won’t see much by...

Published December 23, 2019

Portions of Macau Rail Line Finally Open

Sixteen years after the service was first announced, trains are now running between Taipa and the Cotai resort district. Eleven stations are operating along the line, including key stops...

Published December 16, 2019

Philippine AML Council Pushes for Stricter Rules

The Philippines Anti-Money Laundering Council says the government that must implement stronger anti-money laundering processes by October 2020 or risk landing on a “grey” list by the Financial Action...

Published December 16, 2019

Amax International Is Now Century Entertainment

Hong Kong-based investment and junket company Amax International Holdings has officially changed its name to Century Entertainment International Holdings Ltd. The change was approved on December 3.

Published December 16, 2019

LRWC Hits Pause on Philippines Casino Plan

Leisure & Resorts World Corp. (LRWC) has shelved plans to build a $550 million integrated resort on Boracay Island in the Philippines, at least for now. Eusebio Tanco, the...

Published December 16, 2019

December Starts Badly for Macau’s Casinos

VIP play in Macau has been on the downslide all year, and Xi Jinping’s visit later this month wasn’t expected to help. But gaming revenues as the month started...

Published December 16, 2019

Jail Time for Ho Nephew in Casino Prostitution Bust

Alan Ho’s (l.) original sentence of 13 months in jail was upped to eight years after Macau prosecutors argued he profited from prostitution at the Hotel Lisboa as part...

Published December 9, 2019

Donaco Shakeup Leads to Stock Suspension

The Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) last week suspended trading of Donaco International after shareholders ousted the board chairman and several non-executive board members, leaving only three members standing. As...

Published December 9, 2019

Gaming Revenue ‘Mess’ Brewing in Macau

A soft Chinese economy, currency woes, the trade war with the U.S., political turmoil in Hong Kong…take your pick, they all played a part in making November the second-worst...

Published December 9, 2019

Philippine Regulator to Sell Off Land

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), which regulates gaming in the country, plans to sell three tracts of land in Laguna, Cavite and Parañaque City for about PHP3.14...

Published December 2, 2019

Macau Scraps Right to Take Over Casinos

It’s a technical change to repair a provision in the original gaming concessions awarded to SJM and MGM China. The provision would have assigned their casino assets, including MGM...

Published December 2, 2019

Hokkaido Opts Out in Japan

Governor Naomichi Suzuki (l.) last week decided that his prefecture would not participate in the first round of casino licensing currently under way in Japan. While he didn’t rule...

Published December 2, 2019

Bloomberry Appeals GGAM Award

Philippines-based casino operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp., which operates the Solaire Resort and Casino in Manila’s Entertainment City, has appealed an arbitration decision in Singapore ordering it to pay US$296...

Published November 25, 2019