PAGCOR Casino Sale to Be Complete by 2028

Alejandro Tengco (l.) of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., has confirmed the agency’s plan to divest of 41 casinos by 2028. Before the sale, PAGCOR will work to...

Published October 16, 2023

Macau CE Applauds Casinos’ Non-Gaming Efforts

Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng (l.) says he’s satisfied with efforts by the city’s Big 6 casino operators to bring more non-gaming amenities to the Chinese SAR.

Published October 9, 2023

U.N. Concerned about Mekong Money Laundering

The United Nations has expressed reservations about casinos in Southeast Asia’s Mekong region, concerned they are channels for organized crime entities to “traffic various illicit goods and launder money.”

Published October 9, 2023

SJM to Renovate Macau Palace

Macau officials have announced that Big 6 operator SJM Resorts will undertake improvements of Avenida Almeida Ribeiro, a main peninsula thoroughfare, and upgrade the Macau Palace, its “floating casino.”

Published October 9, 2023

Hong Kong’s IEC Moves on Billion-Dollar Philippines Resort

International Entertainment Corp. of Hong Kong has signed a provisional agreement to develop a new casino resort in Manila. The property would take advantage of robust post-Covid travel to...

Published October 9, 2023

Philippines Still Fall Short of AML Protections

The Philippines remain on the “grey list” of the Financial Action Task Force, and must provide “strict enforcement” of anti-money laundering controls in casinos to get off the global...

Published October 2, 2023

Failed Merger Spells End of 26 Capital

U.S.-based special purpose acquisition company 26 Capital has liquidated following the collapse of a planned merger with Philippines integrated resort Okada Manila (l.).

Published October 2, 2023

PAGCOR Casino Sale Expected to Begin in 2025

The Philippine Department of Finance will help the country’s gaming regulator sell off its casinos. Finance Undersecretary Catherine Fong says it’s “very feasible” that the assets will be ready...

Published October 2, 2023

Macau Limits Junket Partnerships for 2024

Gaming regulators in Macau have decreed that citywide casino operators can partner with a maximum of 50 junket runners in 2024. It’s the latest directive in an effort to...

Published October 2, 2023

Japan Formally Approves Osaka IR

Osaka, Japan’s integrated resort is finally a go, with final approvals by the country’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The MGM Resorts-led project will be the first...

Published October 2, 2023

PAGCOR Lays Out Timeline for New Slot Standards

Non-compliant slot machines now on gaming floors in the Philippines will not have to be removed or updated in accordance with the regulator’s new Technical Standards for EGMs. But...

Published September 25, 2023

Macau Seeks Mainland Help to Curb Illegal Money-changing

Macau Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak says the Chinese gaming hub hopes for greater cooperation with mainland security forces to put an end to “illicit money-exchange gangs.”

Published September 25, 2023

PAGCOR Presses Forward with Plan to Offload Casinos

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. expects that it will complete the sale of its land-based casino assets by 2025. The sale will return PAGCOR to a strictly regulatory...

Published September 25, 2023

Analysts Upbeat on Golden Week in Macau

Following a subdued September, JP Morgan analysts predict that Macau gaming revenues will reach pre-Covid levels for October, due in part to Golden Week celebrations.

Published September 25, 2023

Nepal Casinos Should Boost Anti-AML Protections

A watchdog group says Nepal casinos “should significantly enhance risk-based” oversight of casinos to guard against money laundering and terrorism financing. It cited the country’s “porous border” as a...

Published September 18, 2023

Macau Jockey Club Hangs on for Another Season

In welcome news for Chinese racing, the Macau Jockey Club will begin a new season starting September 29. Rumors had swirled that the facility would be forced to close...

Published September 18, 2023

Sluggish September in Macau

Seasonal weather has been bad news for Macau’s recovering gaming industry. The impact of Typhoon Saola, which struck September 1, briefly closed casinos and most borders and also affected...

Published September 18, 2023

MGM Reduces Gaming Floor Specs for Japan

Bill Hornbuckle (l.), president and CEO of MGM Resorts International, says the gaming floor at the U.S. firm’s planned integrated resort in Japan has been pared back by up...

Published September 18, 2023

Judge: Okada Manila Doesn’t Have to Merge with 26 Capital

A U.S. court has ruled that Philippines integrated resort Okada Manila (l.) is not obligated to complete a planned merger with 26 Capital Acquisition. The judge cited “conduct that...

Published September 18, 2023

MGM China Chooses Health Tourism as Investment Focus

The government of Macau may require the city’s casino concessionaires to invest more in non-gaming, depending on the rate of gaming revenue growth. MGM China would invest in health...

Published September 11, 2023