TOPIC

Casinos

Casinos
News and analysis about the gambling industry in general, and casinos in the Asia-Pacific region specifically. The topic's coverage includes corporate announcements, news and analysis about casinos in the Macau Special Administrative Region (Macau SAR), their offshore investments, expansion plans and business activities, as well as the performance of their stocks wherever they are listed.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
President Xi Jinping and Macau Chief Executive Sam Hou-fai at the inauguration ceremony, which also celebrated Macau’s 25th anniversary as a special administrative region. Photo: Eugene Lee
Macau

Editorial | Xi tells Macau it shares national development responsibility with HK

Stability and prosperity stressed as former Portuguese city marks 25th anniversary of return to China and inaugurates new leader.

Macau

Xi Jinping stresses projects in Hengqin zone must align with Beijing policies

SCMP Exclusives

Exclusive | Wynn Macau calls for easier travel process with Hong Kong to lift tourism

China

Galaxy Entertainment names founder Lui Che-woo’s son as chairman

Francis Lui, 69, has been the deputy chairman of the company since 1997.

Francis Lui Yiu-tung, the eldest son of Lui Che-woo, has been named chairman of Galaxy Entertainment. Photo: Elson Li
Hong Kong property

Lui Che-woo, property and casino magnate of K. Wah and Galaxy, dies at 95

Lui, the chairman of the K. Wah Group of companies, died peacefully on November 7, according to filings to the Hong Kong stock exchange by his companies.

Greater Bay Area

Is Macau’s top job hopeful betting against the house by taking aim at casinos?

Diversifying the economy is a tall order from Beijing, especially when gaming still brings in billions, experts say.

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The Philippines

Are Pogos in the Philippines evading ban by ‘rebranding’ through corruption?

A Philippine senator has warned that Pogos might be looking to diversify into other businesses in the country, such as call centres.

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An illustration of online gambling. Photo: Shutterstock
The Philippines

Philippines says China-centric Pogos ‘deeply’ linked to global crime rings

Senator Risa Hontiveros said the online casino industry could also be tied to spying, money-laundering and election interference.

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Singapore

Singapore gives go ahead for cashless gambling at its casinos

Cashless betting will allow players at gaming tables and machines to use virtual credits, but not cryptocurrencies, from e-wallets.

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The Philippines

Philippine police raid Chinese-run scam centre

The raid follows Marcos Jnr’s ban on online gambling operators following public outcry over allegations that a local mayor was involved in a huge scam centre north of Manila.

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Philippine policemen watch as employees of a Chinese-run scam farm cover their faces during a raid at an office tower in Manila. Photo: AFP
Indonesia

Is a Bali casino a sound gamble for Indonesia or an ‘impossible’ dream?

Officials have panned the plan but the business group behind the proposal insists that income from the venture could solve a raft of issues on the resort island.

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People watch the sunset from a beach in Bali, Indonesia. A business group said building a casino on the island would boost the tourist hub’s income by up to US$809 million. Photo: AFP
Thailand

Thailand closer to take gamble on casinos, unveils draft rules

Thailand’s plan to legalise casinos can potentially boost the tourism sector’s revenue by US$12 billion, according to a study.

Macau

MGM China reports best-ever June quarter as gamblers, tourists return to Macau

The Macau casino concessionaire partly owned by billionaire Pansy Ho reported its best-ever June quarter amid a recovery in tourism and higher winning odds.

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The Philippines

After Philippines’ Pogos ban, what next for 40,000 displaced local workers?

Observers say there should be a sound plan to help local workers move to more stable workforces while curbing Pogos-linked illicit activities for good.

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has instructed authorities to shut down all Pogo businesses by the end of the year. Photo: Shutterstock
Luxury & Gaming

‘Las Vegas always reinvents itself’ – game-changing casino The Mirage shuts

Las Vegas casino The Mirage, opened in 1989 and famous for its dolphins, volcano and tropical island theme, has shut its doors. It will be turned into the guitar-shaped Hard Rock Las Vegas, opening in 2027.

The volcano attraction in front of The Mirage Hotel & Casino erupts in Las Vegas erupts for the second-to-last time on July 16, 2024. Photo: Getty Images via AFP
Singapore

Singapore to impose strict rules on casinos to prevent terrorism financing

Checks will be carried out when casinos receive a cash deposit of US$2,950 or more into a customer’s account – down from the current threshold of US$3,700.

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Thailand

Thailand touts plans for legalising casinos to weed out underground gambling

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said in his first monthly television address that legalising casinos was necessary to tackle underground gambling.

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From our archives

On This Day | When Sands Macau’s opening turned into a day of chaos – from the SCMP archive

On May 18, 2004, scuffles broke out and elderly people fainted after false reports of free gaming chips lured 15,000 to the opening day of Sands Macau.

Hundreds of security officers have trouble controlling the crowds that gather outside, many of them lured by false newspaper reports that free gambling chips would be handed to first-day guests on May 18, 2004. Photo: K.Y. Cheng
Malaysia

PM Anwar says Malaysia doesn’t need new casino to boost economy

Anwar said his government’s focus on digital transformation and AI would be enough to push the country forward.

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Macau

MGM China sees revenue soar as it achieves its highest ever market share

The Macau casino operator announced better-than-expected first-quarter earnings and has set its sights on maintaining its highest ever share of the mass market gaming segment.

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Tourism

Beach resorts without beaches? Why US casino city is begging for sand

Beach erosion has seen three major casinos in Atlantic City pressing the federal and state governments to expedite a sand replenishment project that was supposed to have been undertaken in 2023.

The Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, in the US state of New Jersey, spent US$600,000 to truck in and dump sand on its beach in 2023, after coastal erosion had left little room for people to enjoy.
The Philippines

Philippines bets big on dethroning Singapore as region’s No 2 casino hub

Alejandro Tengco, head of state regulator Pagcor, said Manila is counting on a slew of new integrated resorts and casinos to boost tourist arrivals.

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The Marina Bay Sands hotel and casino in Singapore. Photo: Bloomberg
Greater Bay Area

Macau poised to drive development of bay area’s sports industry, summit hears

Macau is setting the stage to become a key driver of the Greater Bay Area’s sports sector, as the city looks to tap its tourism strengths and expand its economy beyond the gaming industry, a conference heard.

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Macau

Hong Kong warns jailed ‘junket king’ Alvin Chau’s former firms over Russia deal

The SFC warned it may delist two companies formerly headed by Alvin Chau because of concerns about a US$116 million sale of assets in Russia.

Macau

Macau casino operator MGM China gets revenue boost from eased Covid-19 curbs

Macau casino operator MGM China reported a surge in revenue in the fourth quarter of last year amid a rollback in pandemic-related curbs, and analysts said its financial performance will continue to improve in 2024.

Tourists walk out from the casino at the MGM Cotai, a casino resort, at Cotai Stripin in Macau. Photo: Yik Yeung-man
Macau

Wynn Resorts beats profit estimates on improved Las Vegas, Macau performance

Wynn Resorts, the controlling shareholder of Wynn Macau, beat fourth-quarter profit estimates on stronger gaming, luxury retail and hotel bookings at its Macau and Las Vegas properties.

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The Wynn Las Vegas resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Wynn Resorts’ fourth-quarter performance exceeded analysts’ expectations. Photo: AP Photo
Malaysia

In Malaysia, slot machine players face addiction to ‘crack cocaine’ of gambling

Large casinos dominate Malaysia’s domestic gambling scene, but clubs with so-called jackpot machines are where player addiction quietly pervades, observers say.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Jailed Macau casino tycoon Alvin Chau makes plea to Xi Jinping for leniency

Former Suncity Group CEO asks Chinese president for ‘fair trial’ after being sentenced alongside 12 others over losses of HK$8.2 billion in tax revenue.

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