Melco to continue VIP operations at Studio City throughout 2020 Cory Roberts, CDC Gaming Asia · January 14, 2020 at 4:00 pm On Tuesday, Melco announced the continuation of Studio City VIP operations for one year – an unexpected move after Melco announced one year prior that it would be discontinuing VIP operations at the Macau casino on January 15, 2020. The new agreement lasts until January 15, 2021 but is subject to termination by a 30-day notice, giving Melco more flexibility to redistribute to the stronger performing City of Dreams Melco did not specify its reasoning on either today’s continuation notice or last year’s discontinuation notice. “Melco will be rolling out new junket rooms and Premium Mass gaming areas at City of Dreams over the next few months, and we believe it is likely Melco redistributes Studio City’s VIP tables as new facilities are opened,” noted analyst Edward Engels with Macquarie Research.
Greece: Hard Rock International ruled out of Elliniko casino tender Vangelis Mandravelis, Ekathimerini · January 14, 2020 at 12:50 pm The Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) has unanimously accepted the conclusions of the committee for the tender of the Elliniko casino concerning the rejection of the bid by Hard Rock International (HRI). Reliable sources say the decision was made at last Friday’s EEEP board meeting. This decision rules HRI out of the running for the casino license at the old Athens airport plot. EEEP still has to decide on the part of the tender committee’s conclusion related to the participation of the other bidder, the joint venture by Mohegan Gaming Entertainment (MGE) and GEK Terna.
Ban on credit gambling does not go far enough to stop addicts racking up huge debts, say campaigners Ben Chapman, The Independent · January 14, 2020 at 6:17 am Proposals to ban betting with credit cards online do not go far enough to prevent gambling addicts racking up huge debts, campaigners have warned. As betting firms come under increasing pressure to clean up their act amid a “moral crisis” around problem gambling in the UK, the industry’s regulator is set to bring in a new ban on placing bets with credit cards. But the proposals to be announced by the Gambling Commission on Tuesday should have come in years ago and still leave problem gamblers vulnerable, according to experts. Labour MP Carolyn Harris, who has led the campaign to crackdown on gambling companies, said the Gambling Commission was “not fit for purpose”.
Gambling ban turns Cambodia’s boom town to ghost town Arno Maierbrugger, Investvine · January 14, 2020 at 6:13 am Cambodia’s beach resort of Sihanoukville, which saw a boom in investments in casinos and hotels from China since 2016, is suffering from the fallout of a mass exodus of Chinese after an online gambling ban came into force on January 1 this year. Construction work and casino openings have come to an abrupt halt when Prime Minister Hun Sen unexpectedly announced in August last year that Cambodia would criminalise online gambling. Of 72 casinos in the city, so far four have shut down and 23 have laid off employees, with more than 7,000 workers affected, according to Ministry of Labour officials. And residents expect more to come as there were around 200 online gambling operators prior to the ban, employing more than 200,000 people.
China won’t meddle in PH’s drive against illegal gaming operations Genalyn Kabiling, The Manila Bulletin · January 14, 2020 at 5:21 am China has promised not to interfere with the Philippine government’s campaign against illegal offshore gaming operations and gambling-related offenses, President Duterte said recently. The President said China understands the country’s duty to enforce the law, including the arrest and deportation of Chinese nationals if needed. The commitment was relayed by new Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian to President Duterte during their recent meeting. “The ambassador says, ‘If you must, do it because the law is the law. If there’s a need to deport, to arrest…’ They’re keeping their hands away from these things. ‘You have the prerogative to do what you want to enforce the law’,” Duterte said in a recent interview over ABS-CBN.
Japan: Panel proposes gambling addiction to fall under public insurance Asia Gaming Brief · January 13, 2020 at 7:24 pm An advisory panel to the health minister of Japan has recommended that the treatment of gambling addiction be covered by the national health insurance program from April, local media reports. The recommendation was made by the Central Social Medical Insurance Council on Friday last week. According to an estimate from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, around 700,000 people across the country are suspected of having a gambling addiction. If passed, treatments expected to be covered by health insurance will come in the form of group therapy.
SEC investigating whether Suncity Group must conduct tender offer for minority shareholders of Suntrust Inside Asian Gaming · January 13, 2020 at 7:22 pm The Philippines’ Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is looking into whether or not Suntrust Home Developers Inc – the listed real estate company recently acquired by Suncity Holdings to develop a casino-hotel at Westside City Resorts World – must conduct a tender offer for the company’s minority shareholders. According to the Inquirer, the SEC has issued subpoenas to the Philippine Stock Exchange for various records related to trades of Suntrust shares since Suncity announced in October the multi-layered agreement that would see it actively involved in the Westside City development. As reported by IAG last week, Suncity Group subsidiary Fortune Noble Ltd completed the acquisition of 2.55 billion shares in Suntrust – equal to 51% of issued share capital – on 20 December 2019, with local real estate giant Megaworld Corporation acquiring another 43.5% and Aurora Securities Inc the remaining 5.5%.
Australia: ACMA orders ISPs to block nine more gambling sites Aimee Chanthadavong, ZDNet · January 13, 2020 at 7:05 pm The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) on Monday ordered the nation’s internet service providers (ISPs) to block an additional nine offshore gambling websites it deems as illegal. These websites include Roo Casino, GW Casino, Wager Beat, Joe Fortune, Ignition Casino, Casino Dingo, AU Slots, Top Bet, and XBet. According to the ACMA, more than 79 complaints were submitted about these services. “ACMA investigations found these services to be operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001,” the ACMA said. The regulator warned for Australians to withdraw any funds they have with these sites.
Greece: Decision Coming for Casino License at Hellenikon Development Site The National Herald · January 13, 2020 at 1:12 pm ATHENS – The Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) is expected to decide which of two American companies bidding for the lucrative license to operate a casino at the planned development of the abandoned Hellenikon International Airport, with reports one was already ruled out. The Florida-based Hard Rock’s bid is considered ineligible, media reports have said, which would give the license to the only other bidder, the Connecticut-based Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment for a facility deemed critical for the plans to go ahead. The site has been empty for 19 years, since the opening of a new airport northeast of Greece’s capital and is a mess of weeds, abandoned buildings, and rusting aircraft, sitting still during the 4 ½-year reign of the former ruling anti-business Radical Left SYRIZA.
Tourism sector and residents split on proposed Macau tourism tax of up to US$25 Cory Roberts, CDC Gaming Asia · January 13, 2020 at 10:01 am A feasibility study on a proposed tourist tax of up to US$25 shows a stark split between residents and the industry with 95% of residents supporting the measure but only 20% of tourism industry interviewees sharing the same viewpoint. The study, operated by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), collected opinions from nearly 15,000 people. Residents’ opinions were collected online whereas industry questionnaires were distributed physically, and visitors were interviewed face-to-face upon leaving Macau at a border checkpoint. The proposed tax could see visitors paying up MOP$200 (US$25) upon entry to Macau with residents strongly preferring a tax in the MOP$0-99 range instead of the MOP$100-200 range.
