Berejiklian delivers on a jackpot day for Sydney casinos Jacob Saulwick and Megan Gorrey, The Age · August 20, 2019 at 5:22 am Sydney’s two casino giants have hit the jackpot after the Berejiklian government dropped a legal case that threatened Crown Resort’s interests at Barangaroo, and the Premier intervened personally in support of an apartment and hotel tower at The Star casino in Pyrmont. But Gladys Berejiklian’s incursion into the debate about The Star’s proposed $500 million tower has exposed her to criticism that she risks undermining the credibility of the state’s planning system. The 66-storey Star tower, which would include 204 residential apartments and 220 hotel rooms, was recommended for rejection by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment last month on grounds including that it was out of character for the area.
Southeast Asia moves to cool lucrative online gambling industries amid China clampdown South China Morning Post · August 20, 2019 at 5:21 am Southeast Asian countries are moving against their lucrative online gambling industries as Beijing clamps down on a practice that has ballooned due to demand from its own citizens. Weeks after China lashed out at the Philippines for encouraging offshore gambling – which it said targets Chinese customers and causes the illegal outflow of hundreds of millions of yuan – the Philippine gaming regulator said on Monday it would stop accepting applications for new online gaming operations at least until the end of the year, to review concerns about the burgeoning sector. Separately, Chinese state news agency Xinhua said on Sunday that Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered a stop to new licences for online gambling operations.
Primary shocks could impact Argentine online gambling aspirations Ted Menmuir, SBC Americas · August 19, 2019 at 6:35 pm Gaming industry observers will be monitoring current Argentine political movements closely following a week of ‘primary shocks’ that threaten to impact progress in Buenos Aires as it seeks to establish an approved, regulated online gambling marketplace. Last week, the Argentine public shunned President Mauricio Macri and the PRO Party at the nation’s Primary Elections, Argentina’s run-off candidacy format prior to the General Elections scheduled for October 27, 2019. A beleaguered Macri could only muster 32% of votes, as main rival Alberto Fernandez – who leads the ‘Frente de Todos’ socialist coalition – romped to victory taking 48% of the primary ballot.
Malta: Casino executives slam Dragonara’s 64-year licence extension Phil, G3 Newswire · August 19, 2019 at 6:25 pm Malta’s Dragonara casino has been given a 64-year extension to its lease agreement without a competitive tender, causing controversy on the Mediterranean island. The company behind the St Julians casino, Dragonara Gaming, co-owned by Johann Schembri and the Bianchi family, currently has a 10-year lease agreement with government-owned Casma which expires next year. The motion of a 64-year lease extension until 2083 was tabled in Parliament by Economy Minister Chris Cardona. It was approved by Parliament and seconded by Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne.
Complaint filed against Imperial Pacific for failure to pay US$15 million annual license fee Inside Asian Gaming · August 19, 2019 at 6:24 pm The casino regulatory body of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth Casino Commission (CCC), has issued a complaint against Imperial Pacific International for failing to pay its US$15 million annual license fee. Despite being informed by IPI last week that it had paid the fee, due on 12 August 2019, by wire transfer, the CCC has since discovered the company paid only US$5 million. IPI must also pay another US$502,570 based on a Consumer Price Index adjustment, leaving a total of US$10,502,570 still unpaid.
Yokohama to join race to host casinos The Japan Times · August 19, 2019 at 6:15 pm The city of Yokohama will join the race to host casinos, city government sources said Monday. Japan only recently legalized the facilities, which officials refer to as “integrated resorts.” They are planned to be built by the mid-2020s. The prefecture and city of Osaka as well as the prefectures of Wakayama and Nagasaki have already entered the race. Yokohama Mayor Fumiko Hayashi may announce the city’s candidacy later this week at a news conference, the sources said. Under the integrated resorts promotion law, enacted in July 2018, Japan aims to open the first batch of casino resorts — comprising hotels, conference rooms and shops — in up to three areas of the country.
Macau mass-market GGR boosted by hotel supply: DB GGR Asia · August 19, 2019 at 5:11 am Brokerage Deutsche Bank Securities Inc reckons that, on average, the rate of growth in mass-market gross gaming revenue (GGR) in Macau casinos each year is more than twice the rate of growth in the number of hotel rooms in the city the year before – if the number of hotel rooms grew by at least 4 percent. The stockbroking arm of Deutsche Bank issued on Thursday a note saying history shows that the relationship between growth in casino GGR and new supply in the casino gaming market in Macau, as gauged by the number of hotel rooms there, is most noticeable in the mass market. The note said of growth in mass-market GGR: “While mass has been strong for the vast majority of the period since 2011, the influence of new supply is clearly evident. In the years following hotel room supply growth of 4 percent or more, mass GGR… [continue reading]
Lottoland to survive in Australia after court victory Patrick Hatch, Sydney Morning Herald · August 19, 2019 at 5:01 am Online lottery disrupter Lottoland has successfully overturned a government ruling that had threatened to end its business in Australia by declaring its gambling products illegal. In a blow for $9 billion ASX-listed gambling giant and licensed lotteries operator Tabcorp, the NSW Supreme Court late on Friday found in favour of Lottoland in a claim it brought against the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). ACMA in June found that all except one of Lottoland’s products – Mon & Wed Jackpot, Tue Jackpot, Thu Jackpot, US Millions and US Power – breached Australian laws which outlaw online betting on the outcome of a “game of chance”.
Why Chinese students are at risk of becoming gambling addicts in the UK Hilary Clarke, South China Morning Post · August 18, 2019 at 8:43 pm Chinese students heading to a UK university this autumn should be made aware of the risks posed by unfettered access to casinos and online gaming, according to Hong Kong’s first certified councillor for gambling addiction. “It can be like a parachutist landing in a minefield, especially for students who are the product of China’s former one-child policy,” said Edward Kwan, who was a Hong Kong police officer for 30 years. Kwan, who has been providing consultation and counselling on gambling since 1997, spoke to South China Morning Post in London. “They come to the UK, free, maybe a bit immature, and also lonely – that’s all the risk factors right there,” Kwan said of the foreign students.
Enjoy files lawsuit against Sun Dreams over casino delays Phil, G3 Newswire · August 18, 2019 at 8:20 pm Enjoy has filed a lawsuit before the Tribunal for the Defence of Free Competition (TDLC), against its competitor Sun Dreams, for possible acts of unfair competition. The conflict arose after Enjoy was awarded the 15-year license for the Pucón and Puerto Varas casinos once the tender for the municipal casinos was completed. “Fourteen months after that award there is a deep concern that none of these projects, legitimately awarded, has been able to begin construction. And this is not due to causes attributable to our representatives,” said the company in the document put forward to the TDLC.
