Sounds Familiar: Philippines Considers Privatizing PAGCOR

After much back-and-forth on the matter, Philippine lawmakers are again weighing the pros and cons of privatizing some assets of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR). Senate Minority...

Published October 7, 2019

Saipan to Bring In More Junkets?

The Commonwealth Casino Commission, the gaming regulator of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, may license applications for four casino junket operators. The sole casino resort in the...

Published September 30, 2019

Macau Analysts: Less Glitter on Golden Week

The weeklong Golden Week holiday in Macau, running October 1-7, is an annual fixture on the calendar of hundreds of millions of Chinese tourists. Current trends, however, indicate the...

Published September 30, 2019

Developer Scopes Out New Philippines Casino Site

The government of the Philippines has given Hong Kong-listed casino developer Landing International Development, whose Nayon Landing IR (l.) was summarily canceled in 2018, has about six months to...

Published September 23, 2019

Philippines Regulator Promises to Close Nonpaying POGOs

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) says it will uphold the government’s vow to “crack the whip” on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) that are behind in their...

Published September 23, 2019

Handicapping Japan’s IR Race

With a draft of Japan’s Basic IR Policy available to operators and before the public, the competition for three integrated resort licenses may start to pick up speed. Among...

Published September 23, 2019

Amax to Become Century Entertainment?

Amax International Holdings Ltd., headed by businessman Ng Man Sun (l.), has proposed a name change to “refresh” its corporate image and brand, according to a September 9 filing...

Published September 16, 2019

Widus Casino Licensed in Philippines

Widus Philippines Inc., owner and operator of the Widus Hotel and Casino (l.) in the Philippines, has become the first casino in the Clark Freeport Zone to be granted...

Published September 16, 2019

Singapore Doubles Down on Problem Gambling

Singapore has renewed its commitment to fight problem gambling, says Josephine Teo (l.), second minister for home affairs. New measures could include technologies to keep patrons apprised of the...

Published September 16, 2019

Vietnam Proposes Reduced Capital Investments

Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance has proposed easing the barrier to entry for casino investors. Currently, investors must commit a minimum of US$2 billion to build a casino in the...

Published September 16, 2019

Philippines Resist Pressure to End iGaming

While Cambodia has bowed to demands from the Chinese government to put an end to online gaming, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (l.) says its online industry is too important...

Published September 16, 2019

Bernstein: Melco Will Pass Crown Checks

Melco Resorts & Entertainment is likely to pass muster with Australian gaming regulators as it seeks to buy a 19.99 percent stake in Crown Resorts, despite recent reports that...

Published September 1, 2019

Enter Big Brother? Casinos Testing Facial Recognition Technologies

It’s called “biometrics”—a type of artificial intelligence that maps the features of the face with such accuracy, it not only can identify that person but detect their sexual orientation...

Published September 1, 2019

Gaming Looks to Macau’s New CE—and He to Them

Macau’s casino operators should find much in their favor if they forge positive relations with the city’s new leader, Ho Iat Seng (l.). But as their casino concessions near...

Published September 1, 2019

IPI Under Fire for Failure to Pay License Fee

Imperial Pacific International, which holds a monopoly on casino gaming in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, is making headlines again, this time for paying only US$5 million...

Published August 26, 2019

Macau Junket Suncity Adds in Manila, Subtracts in Australia

Macau junket investor Suncity Group has opened a VIP club at Resorts World Manila in the Philippine capital, on the second floor of the property, rebuilt after a 2017...

Published August 26, 2019

Resorts World Manila Operator Travellers to Delist, Go Private

Travellers International Hotel Group Inc., operator of Resorts World Manila (l.), has announced that it will delist from the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) and take the company private. A...

Published August 26, 2019

Yokohama Mayor Climbs Off the Fence, Backs IR Plan

Fumiko Hayashi, mayor of Yokohama, Japan, reportedly has committed herself to pursuing an integrated resort in the Japanese city. Hayashi is said to be considering a JPY260 million (US$2.4...

Published August 26, 2019

Beijing’s Man Takes Helm in Macau

As expected, businessman and former legislator Ho Iat Seng has been chosen by a committee of pro-Beijing electors as the casino hub’s next chief executive. His election is believed...

Published August 26, 2019

Hanoi Busts Multimillion-Dollar Gambling Ring

Vietnamese law enforcement has busted a gambling ring that reportedly generated VND1.6 trillion (US$69 million) in wagers via a multilingual website on an overseas server. Thirteen people were arrested...

Published August 19, 2019