Did Philippines Officials Run ‘Permit Mill’?

The Philippine Office of the Ombudsman is investigating three Parañaque officials accused of rubber-stamping gaming permits in exchange for “grease money.”

Published October 8, 2018

Meg-Star Opens 8th Macau VIP Room

On September 28, Macau junket investor Meg-Star Group launched its eighth and largest VIP room in the city at the Venetian Macao. The opening was just in time for...

Published October 8, 2018

Landing Stock Seesaws, Chairman Still MIA

Shares of casino operator Landing International Development took a rollercoaster ride last week amid questions about the company’s chairman, Yang Zhihui (l.), who dropped out of sight in August...

Published October 8, 2018

PAGCOR Head Touts ‘Manila Strip’

Andrea Domingo (l.) of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp, supports a Manila Strip based on the Vegas model. But current operators in Manila demanded and won a five-year...

Published October 8, 2018

Macau Goes for the Gold

Analysts are keeping a close eye on Macau to see how visitation levels play out during the benchmark Golden Week holiday. In early reports, Chinese arrivals to the territory...

Published October 8, 2018

Six More Months for Goa Casinos

Offshore gaming operators in the India state of Goa have received yet another extension of their deadline to ship out of the Mandovi River (l.). The last deadline was...

Published October 8, 2018

Japan Addiction Bill Now in Force; Government Victory Nota Big Deal

Last week the Japanese government put into effect its Basic Act on Gambling Addiction Countermeasures. The legislation, key to regulations around casino gaming in the country, was officially approved...

Published October 8, 2018

Melco Delays Tender Offer

MCO (Philippines) Investments, the Melco unit planning to privatize Melco Resorts Philippines, has announced it will push back its tender offer by several weeks. The unit hopes to buy...

Published October 8, 2018

Genting SuperStar to Set Sail in Malaysia

Genting Cruise Lines has announced that it will base one of its casino ships, the SuperStar Gemini (l.), in Malaysia starting this November. The cruiser will operate out of...

Published October 1, 2018

Macau Expects Landslide of Smoking Applications

Macau’s gaming halls may finally be moving to establish legally sanctioned smoking lounges. Health Bureau officials last week expected hundreds of last-minute applications ahead of the September 28 deadline.

Published October 1, 2018

Galaxy Macau Opens New VIP Club

Galaxy Macau has opened a new direct premium gaming club at the Ritz-Carlton. The MOP300 million (US$37.2 million) club, which took three years to build, offers 18 table games...

Published October 1, 2018

Landmark Macau Is Now New Orient Landmark

The Landmark Macau casino resort is now operating under its new name, the New Orient Landmark Hotel. The rebranding followed the sale of the property by casino services firm...

Published October 1, 2018

Warming Up in Japan

In Japan, global gaming operators continue to pull out all the stops for local governments that may want to partner on integrated resort projects. A dozen big names have...

Published October 1, 2018

Sale of PAGCOR Casinos? Some Other Time Maybe

A plan by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to sell an estimated 17 of its 46 casino properties is on indefinite hold, according to PAGCOR Chairwoman and CEO...

Published October 1, 2018

Okada Calls for Probe in Tiger Deal

Japanese billionaire Kazuo Okada (l.), founder of Universal Entertainment, wants the Philippine Stock Exchange to investigate the proposed takeover of Asiabest Group by his former company, Tiger Resort Asia...

Published October 1, 2018

IPI to Operate Mariana Resort & Spa

Imperial Pacific International has been approved to assume operations of the Mariana Resort & Spa (l.) on the island of Saipan. Kan Pacific recently announced its role as operator...

Published October 1, 2018

Macau Weathers the Storm

Macau’s casino industry is back in business following Typhoon Mangkhut, a Category 10 storm that struck the MSAR September 16. Mangkhut caused severe flooding but did not match the...

Published September 24, 2018

Myanmar Parliament OKs Casino Bill

Myanmar’s Lower House of Parliament has approved a casino bill that could open the door to foreigners-only casinos in the Southeast Asian nation. Minister U Aung Hlaing Win (l.)...

Published September 24, 2018

RWM Plans $4.4B Expansion

Alliance Global Group, which owns half of Resorts World Manila (l.) operator Travellers International Hotel Group, has announced that the group will invest PHP240 billion (US$4.4 billion) through 2020...

Published September 24, 2018

Saipan Balks at IPI Hotel Plan

Casino commissioners in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands have red-flagged a plan by Imperial Pacific International to build a total of 2,000 new hotel rooms at its...

Published September 24, 2018