ECA embarks on ambitious three-year strategy and welcomes Cyprus as newest memberPhil, G3 Newswire · February 14, 2019 at 9:08 pmAt the General Assembly of the European Casino Association (ECA) held at ICE London on 5th February, the association’s new strategy for the coming years was approved. Under the title “Supporting and promoting Europe’s casinos”, the ECA will advocate the values and principles of the nationally licensed land-based casino industry in Europe towards a sustainable future. Among the key objectives of the ECA will be to provide thought leadership, exchange and development of best practices on key issues for the industry including digitalisation, anti-money laundering, corporate social responsibility, responsible gambling, diversity & inclusion and safety & security.
IAG Japan celebrates with lavish Tokyo launch partyMakoto Katayama, Inside Asian Gaming · February 14, 2019 at 12:05 amInside Asian Gaming celebrated the launch of its new Japan business, IAG Japan, on Wednesday night with a lavish launch party at NAMIKI667 Bar & Lounge in Tokyo’s Hyatt Centric Ginza. Held in conjunction with IAG’s Japan media partner Ohta Publications and local on-the ground team Reach Spirits, the party saw a who’s who of the Japanese IR, hotel, media and business communities come together for an exciting night of networking and celebration. High expectations for the potential of Japanese IRs was evident, with the buzz of the crowd even forcing a delay in speeches while everyone enjoyed the fine food and beverages on offer.
SKYCITY’s shares fall as market digests resultsAsia Gaming Brief · February 14, 2019 at 12:01 amSKYCITY shares opened at NZ$3.83 this morning four percent down on its peak price for the year of NZ$3.99 on Tuesday the day before releasing a weaker net result than the market expected. The company’s net profit for the year was $82.2 million (US$54.5 million) down over $10 million from the same period the previous year, despite its reporting an increase in normalized earnings and an increased normalized profit – both up by about eleven percent. One analyst said today that the result was of “lower quality” than the market was expecting. This was because of a combination of factors revealed in the results announcement.
Melco ops staff to reclaim rest days falling on public holidaysGGRAsia · February 13, 2019 at 7:24 pmMacau casino operator Melco Resorts and Entertainment Ltd announced on Wednesday that all “non-management operational employees” that have a scheduled rest day coinciding with a statutory holiday would be granted “an additional rest day”. The policy will be effective from “July 1, 2019”, the firm said in a press release. Stephen Lao Ka Weng, president of a local gaming labour group called Power of the Macao Gaming Association, told GGRAsia that Melco Resorts’ announcement meant the firm would be following a practice already adopted by “most of” Macau’s casino operators. He added that he was “pleased” with the measure announced by Melco Resorts.
Bad luck limits Paradise Group’s growth in JanuaryInside Asian Gaming · February 13, 2019 at 7:22 pmBad luck impacted Korean casino operator Paradise Group’s earnings in January, with year-on-year revenue enjoying only a marginal rise despite a 27.2% increase in table drop. Paradise reported table drop of KRW557.68 billion (US$495.5 million) for the period across the company’s four key properties – up from KRW438.4 billion in January 2018 and by 6.6% from KRW523 billion in December.
Tax on prizes introduced in Buenos Aires casinosPhil, G3 Newswire · February 13, 2019 at 7:19 pmThe Provincial Institute of Lottery and Casinos (IPLyC) has officially put in place the new tax on prizes on slots. Taxes will be used in order to help create a new Integration and Social Development Fund to finance infrastructure and assistance programs in social areas. Owners of casinos and bingo halls will act as withholding agents and will be responsible for collecting the new tax. The tax ranges from 1 per cent to three per cent on prizes. The new regulations were published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Buenos Aires and was signed by the head of the IPLyC President Matías Lanusse.
European Lotteries to descend on Betting on Football conferenceCDC Gaming Reports · February 13, 2019 at 9:51 amThe European Lotteries association (EL) will host a meeting for members of its Sport Working Group in London on Tuesday, March 19. The meeting is part of the wider Betting on Football Conference, which will run at Stamford Bridge from March 19-22. EL is the umbrella organisation of national lotteries operating games of chance for the public benefit, which brings together both state-owned and private operators, both profit and non-profit, who operate on behalf of the state. The group includes lottery representatives from Denmark, Finland, France, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, and Greece. “We are pleased that our Sport Working Group has been added to the Betting on Football Conference,” EL Sports Committee Chair Olli Sarekoski said. “Embracing responsible innovation in sports betting is of great importance for the Lotteries; our Working Group members will have the chance to join 2,000 delegates at Stamford… [continue reading]
Inside Asian Gaming expands into JapanCDC Gaming Reports · February 13, 2019 at 12:05 amInside Asian Gaming is excited to announce its expansion into Japan via two new Japanese-language gaming industry media products and a cooperation agreement with Japan’s leading B2B hotel and restaurant industry media brand, Ohta Publications. With Japan’s integrated resort industry inching closer to becoming a reality, Inside Asian Gaming launched IAG Japan, a look at this exciting new gaming destination, in January. IAG Japan is a bilingual version, in Japanese and English, of IAG’s traditional monthly print magazine, and is distributed digitally to our rapidly growing Japanese subscriber database every calendar month. It will feature an increased focus on developments within Japan’s gaming industry, including feature stories, insights and interviews with key industry figures. Inside Asian Gaming has also launched a Japanese language-version of its leading Asian gaming industry e-newsletter IAG Breakfast Briefing, titled IAG Daily Briefing, which hits the inboxes of our Japanese readers at 12pm Tokyo time every… [continue reading]
Gambling ads to be banned from child-friendly sites and gamesJim Waterson, The Guardian · February 13, 2019 at 12:01 amGambling adverts will no longer be allowed to appear on websites or in computer games that are popular with children, under new rules designed to stop irresponsible gambling. Bookmakers will be required to use every targeting tool possible to ensure online gambling promotions are not seen by under-18s. They will also have to avoid placing gambling adverts on parts of websites that are popular with children, and stop using celebrities or other people who appear to be under 25 in their promotions. The rules will mean many well-known footballers will not be allowed to feature in gambling adverts because of their age.
MGM Cotai still waiting on smoke lounge requests: govtGGRAsia · February 12, 2019 at 7:00 pmMacau casino resort MGM Cotai – run by MGM China Holdings Ltd – was as of Monday still waiting for Macau government approval for smoking lounges requested by the firm. Macau’s Health Bureau stated that – as of that day – it had given permission for an aggregate of 436 new-style smoking lounges for 27 casinos in the city. That tally included major casino properties run by the city’s six casino operators. The exception was MGM Cotai, according to the bureau’s latest updated list of approved new smoking lounges published on Monday. Also as of Monday, the bureau had received a total of 555 requests for installation of new smoking lounges in casinos, it added in the latest release.
