Author - Ben Blaschke

Gaming

Spreading the word

The Macau government will spend the rest of 2018 spreading its responsible gambling message to visitors from mainland China. In mid-September, the Macau government celebrated the start of its 10th year of responsible gambling promotions by...

Gaming insights Gaming Cover features

Macau VIP on the rise

Despite concerns that China’s slowing economy will hurt the VIP gambling business in Macau, the city’s leading junket operators have shown no signs of trouble with a number of new VIP Clubs launching in 2018. IP gambling has long been the...

From the...

From the editor #63

Macau is best known as the gaming capital of the world, but dig down a little deeper and it is a city of resilience. How else could you explain the strength showed by its business leaders and citizens in dealing with a second devastating typhoon in...

Gaming

Beating down the bully

Whether you’re an experienced poker player or still learning the intricacies of the game, one thing we know for sure is that your day will be much more difficult if you have an aggressive player to your left. WGM explains how to deal with someone...

From the...

From the editor #62

I was at a conference last week in Sydney, Australia at which the rise of eSports was among the key topics of discussion. Once considered the domain of teenage boys hiding in their bedrooms, competitive video gaming is now big business and getting...

Gaming

Raining money

City of Dreams awarded the largest ever Duō Fú Duō Cái progressive jackpot in July.   One lucky player enjoyed an amazing start to July when they won Macau’s largest ever Duō Fú Duō Cái jackpot at City of Dreams. The monster...

Gaming

King of the world

American John Cynn topped the second biggest WSOP Main Event field of all time to be crowned 2018 champion in what proved to be another fascinating series.   Thirty-three-year-old American John Cynn has been crowned the 2018 World Series of...

Cover features

The history of the Cotai Strip

WGM tells the story of how an empty swampland became the world’s number one gaming and entertainment hub.   With nine casino resorts within its reach and annual gaming revenue of around MOP$163 billion (US$20 billion), Macau’s Cotai Strip...

From the...

From the editor #61

One of my favorite places in all of Macau is the observation deck high up on the Parisian Macao’s replica Eiffel Tower, which offers a truly spectacular view of the Cotai Strip. Is there any better location to appreciate just how far Macau has...

Gaming

The concept of ICM

For anyone with aspirations of becoming a world class tournament poker player, the concept of ICM – Independent Chip Model – is a vital piece of knowledge.   Poker is a great game to play. Whether you enjoy having a few friends around on a...

From the...

From the editor #60

For a city of just 650,000 residents, Macau certainly punches above its weight. Over the years, I’ve run into countless international friends who have asked me what there is to do in Macau. The obvious answer is to visit any or all of Macau’s...

Football Sport Cover features

WGM’s World Cup Guide

There is nothing quite like football’s World Cup. Held only once every four years, it is one of the most watched sporting events on the planet, with the 2014 World Cup in Brazil shown in every single country and territory on earth. More than just...

From the...

From the editor #59

As a fanatical football fan, there is nothing better than the World Cup. Coming around just once every four years, it is always a month of feverish excitement, lack of sleep and roller coaster emotions – even if my hopes aren’t particularly high...

Online Gaming

Royale rumble

Macau eSports firm FVESL is helping local players make a real splash on the international stage via hugely popular mobile game Clash Royale.   Macau eSports organization FVESL is taking on the world with its very first Clash Royale team, KIX...

Play Gaming

WSOP takes center stage

It’s that time again. Every year, for close to half a century now, the eyes of the poker world have turned to Las Vegas in May for the annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) – by far the planet’s richest and most prestigious poker tournament...

From the...

#58 From the editor

There is more to an integrated resort than just a casino. In Macau, the Philippines, Singapore, Las Vegas and beyond, these huge resorts provide not only great entertainment but unique shopping opportunities and incredible dining experiences. In...

Play Gaming

The history of Craps

For some it represents the most fun one can have on a casino floor, for others it is a confusing jumble of numbers, betting options and phrases. WGM takes a look at the history of the highly social casino game Craps. The history of gambling dice...

Play Gaming

The art of 3-betting

For many players, 3-betting opponents on the button is a reflex action – but how often do you put genuine thought into your actions? WGM takes a closer look at the art of 3-betting and how we should implement it into our game. They say poker is a...

Play Gaming

Aiming High

The Asian Poker Tour is expecting record numbers when it returns to Macau for the APT Macau Championships this month. The Asian Poker Tour returns to Macau in late April for what promises to be one of its biggest events of the year. The APT Macau...

From the...

#57 From the editor

There is so much excitement in the Asian gaming world right now, with new casino resorts opening in Nepal, Korea and of course Macau over the past few months. Nevertheless, it is this incredible city of Macau that continues to lead the way, which...

From the...

#56 From the editor

Late last year, Macau became just the third Chinese city after Chengdu and Shunde to be designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. According to UNESCO, the Creative Cities concept recognizes cities who “foster innovation as key drivers for a...

Play

Back with a bang

The Asia Pacific Poker Tour is back after a 12-month hiatus with some big money on offer at City of Dreams in March. Having been scrapped at the end of 2016 as organizer PokerStars disbanded its global tours, the muchloved Asia Pacific Poker Tour...

Cover features

Jewel in the crown

WGM takes you on a guided tour of Macau’s newest integrated resort, MGM Cotai, which was unmasked to the world in February. Macau’s newest casino resort, MGM Cotai, opened its doors to the public on 13 February 2018 with the spectacular US$3.4...

Play Gaming

Doubling down

Blackjack is an interesting game as players get to make meaningful decisions that affect their chances of winning as their hand plays out. The most important of these decisions is whether to hit or stand on a hand, but there are also more intricate...

Sport

NFL bets big on Las Vegas

The most famous gambling city in the world has forked out big money to host its own NFL team from 2020. Given that Las Vegas is renowned as the home of bright lights and entertainment in the United States, it’s remarkable that Sin City has never...

Gaming

Asian Poker Tour launches 2018 season

The Asian Poker Tour (APT) welcomes the 2018 season by introducing a host of key changes as part of a revamped schedule that will feature a total of seven stops – with more to be added soon – including two events in Macau and stops in the...

Play Gaming

MacauVIP on the up

There is a mantra in Macau that the health of the city’s gaming industry can be judged by the number of VIP gaming rooms opening or closing at any given time. Right now it’s clear Macau is picking up momentum with two of its biggest junket...

Play Gaming

Dragon hunting

The Macau Poker Cup (MPC) returns to the PokerStars LIVE Macau poker room at City of Dreams for its 28th edition in January, offering another huge schedule of tournament action over 17 days. Since launching back in May 2008, the MPC has become one...

Cover features

Bigger is better

Just a short three hour flight from Macau sits Phnom Penh, where the Cambodian capital city’s only casino-resort has just doubled in size. Naga2 is the latest addition to NagaWorld, once a floating casino on the Mekong River before moving to its...