Taiwan Pushes Poker, eSports

The lack of appetite for full-fledged casinos among most residents of Taiwan’s Kinmen Islands has prompted the government to pivot toward poker and eSports as a revenue generator.

Published December 18, 2017

Junkets Abound in Macau

The recovery of Macau’s VIP gambling market has spurred junket operators to boost their presence inside the city’s casinos. The latest addition is the Tak Chun Group’s VIP club...

Published December 18, 2017

Macau GGR Hits $2.9 Billion in November

Macau posted gross gaming revenue of $2.9 billion for the month of November for the second-highest monthly total of 2017. A 23 percent increase hiked YTD GGR above $30...

Published December 11, 2017

Japan’s LDP Pushes to Pass Problem Gaming Bill

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party was pushing lawmakers last week to approve a gambling addiction bill before the current Diet session ended December 9.

Published December 11, 2017

Locals Casinos Could Do Big Business in Viet Nam

Locals-only casinos in Vietnam could bring back the estimated $800 million per year gambled by Vietnamese nationals at casinos across the border. A three-year trial of locals gaming has...

Published December 11, 2017

Silver Heritage to Open Casino at Tiger Palace

With its hotel in receipt of a five-star rating by the government of Nepal, Silver Heritage Group Ltd. says it may now proceed with plans to open a casino...

Published December 11, 2017

Indian State Court Rejects Poker As Game of Skill Argument

The Indian Gujarat High Court has rejected a petition to have poker classified as a game of skill. The petition was brought by the Indian Poker Association after a...

Published December 11, 2017

Universal Sues Okada

The Japanese machine gaming giant is seeking compensation for the costs of an in-house investigation that led to the ouster of its billionaire founder and chairman, Kazuo Okada (l.),...

Published December 11, 2017

Macau Rejects Tax Haven Designation

Macau authorities have rejected what they call the European Union’s “unilateral and biased” decision to include the territory on a blacklist of 17 purported global tax havens.

Published December 11, 2017

Amax to Operate Genting VIP room

Hong Kong-listed Amax International Holdings Ltd. has signed an agreement with Cambodia’s Crown Resorts Co. Ltd. to operate a VIP room at Genting Crown Casino (l.) in the casino...

Published December 11, 2017

Legionnaire Bacteria Detected at Parisian Macao

Traces of the legionella bacteria have been identified at the Parisian Macao, a property of Sands China Ltd. The Macau Health Bureau has ordered the resort to ramp up...

Published December 11, 2017

Melco Introduces Japanese Concept

Lawrence Ho and Melco Japan President Ako Shiraogawa (l.) took center stage in Tokyo last week to introduce the ideas that his company, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, will bring...

Published December 4, 2017

Survey Says Most Osakans Oppose Casino

A recent poll showed that most people living in Osaka oppose a casino development in their midst. Fifty-seven percent of those surveyed came out against an integrated resort proposed...

Published December 4, 2017

China Relaxes Korea Tourism Ban

In good news for Korea’s 16 foreigners-only casinos, Beijing has eased up on a ban on travel to Korea. The ban, first announced in March, caused tourism to plummet...

Published December 4, 2017

Macau Mum on License Renewals

Macau lawmakers have been close-mouthed about the gaming concession expirations—and renewals—which are set to begin in 2020 and continue through 2022. Five-year extensions for the current crop are an...

Published December 4, 2017

China Shuts Down Underground Bank

Underground banks are the bane of China, which has strict rules that prevent individuals from leaving the country with much cash—or transferring large amounts out of the country. Last...

Published December 4, 2017

SJM’s Jai Alai Hotel Opens

Macau casino operator SJM Holdings Ltd. has opened its Jai Alai Hotel (l.) overlooking the Outer Harbor reservoir in Zape. The company described the new hotel as “customer-centric,” offering...

Published December 4, 2017

Legend Ceases Landmark Ops

Hong Kong-listed Success Dragon has ceased operations at its Landmark Macau due to growing losses in the first half of 2017. The 439-room property lost HK$9.2 million in the...

Published December 4, 2017

PAGCOR’s Domingo under Fire

Andrea Domingo, chairwoman of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., is the subject of a graft and breach of conduct complaint filed by Leon Estrella Peralta, founding chairman of...

Published December 4, 2017

List of Japan IR Hopefuls Grows

Osaka, Yokohama, Hokkaido, Tomakomai—the list of proposed sites for Japan integrated resorts has lengthened. An all-Japan consortium that hopes to develop in Rusutsu may be facing an uphill battle,...

Published November 27, 2017