Casino moguls Sheldon Adelson and Steve Wynn were among Donald Trump’s high profile campaign donors and supporters on hand to witness his inauguration as the USA’s 45th President last Friday. Around a dozen of the 183 seats located on the...
Author - Ben Blaschke
Cambodian border casinos to suffer Vietnam hit
Cambodia’s many border casinos could find themselves the unlucky losers after Vietnam published its new decree on Friday – officially lifted its ban on locals gambling. The decree, which comes into effect on 15 March, will mark the beginning...
Macau college teams show off eSports skills
The rapidly growing popularity of eSports in Macau was on show late last week with the G4 eSports Stadium near Red Market hosting the Macau-wide College Championship 2017. Organized by the computer society of the University of Macau in conjunction...
Las Vegas Sands settles over anti-bribery claim
Las Vegas Sands has agreed to pay a criminal penalty of almost US$7 million to settle a five-year investigation by the US Department of Justice into accusations the company violated anti-bribery laws when it hired a consultant to help with...
Japanese rookie prevails in APT season opener
Japan’s Takumi Samejima has won the first Asian Poker Tour event of 2017, taking down APT Kick-off at Resorts World Manila to claim his maiden APT Championship ring. Samejima, a cash game player taking part in just his third live tournament...
67 nations to be represented at ICE
This year’s ICE Totally Gaming exhibition will see an incredible 67 jurisdictions and sovereign states represented on the show floor. To be held at London’s ExCeL centre from 7 to 9 February, they include 10 nations with 10 or more...
Resorts World Las Vegas build almost underway
Construction of the US$4 billion, Chinese-themed Resorts World Las Vegas could start imminently following reports that owner Genting Group is expanding its site preparation work. Genting Americas Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Michael...
Freight train from China arrives in London
It seemed an impossible task, but after travelling almost 7,500 kilometres over the course of two weeks the first freight train ever to travel from China to London arrived at its destination this week. The train, which left Yiwu in China’s...
Suicide pact leaves two dead at Galaxy
Two people are dead and two more remain in hospital following what police believe to be a family suicide pact in a hotel room at Galaxy Macau’s Hotel Okura on Wednesday. The deceased bodies of a father and son were discovered by hotel staff...
888poker pulls out of Australia
The future of online poker in Australia looks bleak after leading site 888poker announced it was pulling out of the market due to an anticipated change in Australia’s online gaming laws. An amendment to the 2001 Interactive Gambling Act – which...
Morgan Stanley raises 2017 Macau expectations
Macau can look forward to gross gaming revenue growth of around 10 percent in 2017 – its first positive year-on-year result in four years. That’s the prediction of Morgan Stanley analysts Praveen Choudhary and Alex Poon, who have raised their...
Macau’s MdMe announces new global gaming law practice
Leading Macau law firm MdME has announced the launch of an International Gaming Law Practice – the MLGTS Legal Circle. With leading offices in Portugal, Macau, Angola and Mozambique, the Gaming Law Practice of the MLGTS Legal Circle aims to...
Mass, not VIP, drove last quarter growth
Macau’s Gaming Inspection, and Coordination Bureau released its official figures for 4Q16 on Monday, citing year-on-year gross gaming revenue growth of 10 percent to MOP$60.4 billion on the back of strong VIP performance. But Union Gaming...
Mark Brown out as Best Sunshine CEO
Best Sunshine CEO Mark Brown is set to vacate his current role to take up a position as Chairman of the Board. In a statement to local newspaper Marianis Variety over the weekend, Brown refuted suggestions that he had resigned as CEO of the company...
Bleak outlook for Crown Resorts staff
The 17 Crown Resorts staff currently being detained in China could be waiting another 12 months before any charges are laid, according to Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT). It had been hoped that the staff, which includes the...
Japan tourist numbers smash previous records
In another boost to operators hoping to stake a claim in the country’s casino industry, Japan has announced that it welcomed a record number of tourists in 2016 – topping 20 million arrivals for the very first time. Japan’s Tourism...
Chinese credit growth to limit Macau recovery
Slower Chinese credit growth could limit the rate of Macau’s gaming recovery in 2017, according to Wells Fargo Securities. Despite seeing year-on-year revenues rise for each of the past five months following two years of consecutive decline...
2017 ICE gaming show to attract record attention
This year’s ICE Totally Gaming, already recognized as the world’s biggest annual gaming trade show, is also set to become the most reported on in gaming industry history. WGM will be one of a record 42 accredited media organizations and 130...
IAGA annual gaming summit heads to NYC
Having traveled to the iGaming hub of Malta in 2016, the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) will hold this year’s International Gaming Summit in New York City for the very first time. Running from 30 May through 1 June 2017 at...
Cheap inbound travel key to Macau future: Bernstein
Visitation would likely increase if transport to and from Macau was cheaper, according to a survey conducted by brokerage Sanford C. Bernstein. The proprietary survey of nearly 1,900 customers and those planning to visit found that time and money...
James Packer returns to Crown Resorts board
Casino mogul James Packer is back on the board of Crown Resorts barely 12 months after stepping down to focus on the company’s overseas investments. Packer’s return follows the announcement this week that Robert Rankin – who took on the role...
Philippines issues unique order against illegal gambling
The Philippine government has ordered key law enforcement agencies, headed by the Philippine National Police (PNP), to enforce “Oplan Tokhang” against anyone suspected of engaging in illegal gambling activities. An action first devised by...
Melco Crown appointments a “significant change” in direction
Melco Crown’s announcement of a number of new senior management appointments late last week represents a major change in direction for the company, according to Brokerage group Bernstein. The new appointments include Gabriel Hunterton as Property...
Macau operators head back to China
Macau’s concessionaires have begun moving staff back into China following the arrest of 18 Crown Resorts employees six weeks ago. But Crown’s main competitor in Australia, Star Entertainment Group, is holding off on joining them. According to a...
Edge of the law
This article first appeared in the Jan/Feb 2017 issue of WGM. WGM gives its take on the intriguing and highly controversial decision by a US court ordering renowned high-roller Phil Ivey to pay back US$10 million he won from Atlantic City’s...
Like father, like son
This article first appeared in the Jan/Feb 2017 issue of WGM. Having watched his father grow the Macau Grand Prix into the internationally renowned motor racing festival it is today, Teddy Yip Jr is proud to be continuing the family legacy. With a...
Rising star
This article first appeared in the Jan/Feb 2017 issue of WGM. WGM sits down with Lu Tsai, Chief Operating Officer of VIP operator Meg-Star International, to discuss the state of Macau’s junket industry and how Meg-Star has positioned itself to...
Local ownership to play key Japan role
Japanese regulators are likely to have a significant focus on local ownership when issuing casino licenses, according to Wells Fargo. Japan this week passed legislation to legalize casinos, with a second bill that sets out the precise framework for...
Grow Up eSports becomes Macau WCA representative
Grow uP eSports and Grow uP Gaming have signed a strategic partnership agreement with World Cyber Arena (WCA) to become the organization’s exclusive representatives in Macau and Portugal respectively. The agreement means that Grow uP eSports...
Macau Tower turns 15
Macau Tower has celebrated its 15th birthday with an Anniversary Cocktail Reception attended by more than 300 guests. Since opening on 19 December 2001, Macau Tower has played a key role in helping Macau become a world tourism and leisure centre as...