G2E Asia will feature a heavy focus on the “Integrated Resort Experience” (IRE) in 2017 as it looks to offer solutions to the Macau government’s call to attract a market beyond gaming. IRE will centralize sourcing of new products...
Author - Ben Blaschke
China calls for foreign help in anti-gambling crackdown
China’s Minister for Public Security, Guo Shengkun, has outlined details to further crack down on cross-border gambling, calling for greater assistance from foreign law enforcement agencies in preventing overseas operators from targeting...
Philippines casinos facing tighter controls
Casinos could be included in tightened Philippines anti-money laundering laws set to be introduced in May, according to Senate President Aquilino Pimentel. The move comes in the wake of last year’s Bangladesh Bank breach which saw US$81...
Baccarat picking up in Las Vegas
Nevada’s gross gaming revenue declined 4.5 percent in February, however baccarat volume for the first two months of the year rose 7.7 percent in a sign that Chinese visitation to the American gaming hub is starting to rise. Although baccarat...
Local Macau film debuts at Studio City
Studio City was the venue this week for the premiere of Our 17, a film directed by local Macau director Emily Chan and shot with the support of Melco Crown Entertainment last summer. Shown to an audience of around 500 guests, including Secretary for...
Macau missing huge sportsbook opportunity
Macau’s properties won’t truly be able to call themselves integrated resorts until they are granted the opportunity to operate their own sports books. That’s the opinion of sports betting experts John J English and Randy Haynes who believe...
MGM Resorts appoints Aaron Fischer as Chief Strategy Officer
MGM Resorts International has announced the appointment of Aaron Fischer as chief strategy officer. Fischer, who formerly worked as Head of Consumer and Gaming research at brokerage CLSA, joined MGM Resorts in November as senior vice president...
Genting Singapore confirms Japan ambitions
Genting Singapore has stated its intention to actively pursue a casino license in Japan, with the company currently positioning itself as a “strong candidate” once the bidding process begins. Outlining Genting Singapore’s upcoming plans in its...
Carrie Lam voted next Hong Kong chief executive
Carrie Lam has been elected to be Hong Kong’s fifth chief executive, winning almost two-thirds of the vote to be chosen as the city’s next leader ahead of rivals John Tsang and Woo Kwok-hing. The former Chief Secretary and deputy to current...
APT Poker Room Manila finds new home
The Asian Poker Tour is set to open its brand new poker room in Manila at Winford Hotel and Casino. The new APT Poker Room Manila replaces the APT’s former home at the Pavilion – a move that will no doubt go down well with players given the...
No need for poker shot clock
In the Mar/Apr 2014 issue of WGM, we featured an article about calling the clock on your opponents at the poker table. That is, asking tournament staff to start a countdown on an opponent by which time they must make a decision or have their hand...
Razzamatazz
Among the many popular variants of poker, the one that seems to drive players the craziest surely has to be razz. Why? Because it is eternally frustrating to see an excellent starting hand turn into little more than trash and have to fold – a lot...
Dubai World Cup makes broadcast history
The 2017 Dubai World Cup made history over the weekend, becoming the first horse race to be broadcast live on planes and cruise liners. Available mid-flight to passengers on 580 flights via Sport 24, this year’s race also enjoyed record reach with...
North Korea to launch casino cruise ship
North Korea is set to launch its first casino cruise ship as it looks for innovative new ways to raise much needed funds. Under increasing financial pressure due to international sanctions imposed on them in the wake of recent nuclear tests and...
Macau unemployment hits five-year high
Macau’s general unemployment rate and locals unemployment rate for the three months from November 2016 through January 2017 have both risen by 0.1 percent from the previous period to 2 percent and 2.8 percent respectively, according to figures...
Imperial Pacific construction worker killed on site
An employee of one of the subcontractors building Imperial Pacific International LLC’s (IPI) Imperial Pacific Resort on Saipan was killed on site earlier this week, the company has revealed. In a statement late Wednesday, Chairman Mark Brown...
Amaya Inc announce positive 2016 revenue results
Online gaming company Amaya Inc, owner of online poker giants PokerStars and Full Tilt, saw revenues for the 4Q16 and the full year increase by 5.9 percent and 7.8 percent respectively on the back of numerous cost-cutting measures. However, its...
Sheldon Adelson 20th richest person in the world
Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson has been rated the richest person in the gaming industry and the 20th richest in the world on the Forbes List of Billionaires 2017. Despite losing US$1.4 billion from his net worth over the past 12...
Melco Crown announces staff pay rise
Melco Crown Entertainment Limited has announced pay increases for its non-management employees ranging from 2.5 percent to 7 percent, effective from 1 April 2017. Eligible full-time employees earning a monthly income of up to MOP$16,000 will receive...
Macau fiscal reserve grows 27 percent in 2016
The Macao SAR’s fiscal reserves grew 27 percent in 2016 to MOP$438.7 billion. Comprising MOP$132.8 billion of basic reserve and MOP$305.9 billion of excess reserve, it included a total investment income of MOP$3.3 billion, equivalent to an...
Australia bans online poker and in-play sports betting
The Australian parliament has officially passed a new bill that will see online poker and in-play sport betting banned. Despite a late push from Australia’s poker community, the Senate this week passed the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016...
Macau restaurants enjoy big January jump
A study by Macau’s Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) has revealed that well over half of local restaurants and similar establishments enjoyed year-on-year growth in receipts in January – the highest proportion on record. An impressive...
Macau expert warns of Gold Coast IR threat
A new AU$3 billion IR set to be built along the Australian beachside holiday strip known as the Gold Coast could pose a serious threat to local businesses, according to Macau integrated resort expert Professor Glenn McCartney. Speaking to...
Korea’s missile defence system fails to save poker
When South Korea recently announced it would allow the US army to set up its Terminal High Altitude Area Defence anti-ballistic missile system (THAAD) on Korean land, few would have expected poker to be among its first casualties. Yet that’s...
Slot machine hackers proving hard to catch
An international syndicate of slot machine hackers continues to operate across the globe, despite some members having been recently caught in Singapore and the US state of Missouri. News of the syndicate’s ongoing efforts to make millions from...
Macau GGR tracking at +10% for first quarter
Macau’s gross gaming revenue is on track to complete a 10 percent upswing for the first three months of 2017 on the back of a better than expected start to the year. According to brokerage Sanford C Bernstein, both mass and VIP gaming have...
MGM developing golf skills gambling game
MGM is in the process of developing a unique skill-based golf game combining gambling with a range of typical golf skills such as putting, driving and accuracy. The latest innovation at its brand new Golfstream indoor laser golf course, which opened...
Novomatic using Ainsworth acquisition to target Asia
Gaming industry giant Novomatic is looking to boost its presence in Asia by acquiring a majority stake in Australian slot machine manufacturer Ainsworth Game Technology. Novomatic is nearing completion of a deal, agreed last year, to acquire a 53...
SJM launches new recruitment center
Casino operator SJM officially launched its new SJM Recruitment Center at a special opening ceremony late last week. Located on the 10th floor of the China Civil Plaza at Alameda Dr Carlos d’Assumpção, the Center intends to wholly support...
Pineapple express
Chances are that if you’ve spent a bit of time playing Hold’em in recent years you’ve also dabbled in some Omaha or Stud at one time or another as well, but there are also a number of less well known poker variants that are worth...