By Erik Gibbs

Casino

Nagasaki and Yokohama Continue Enthusiasm to Attract IR Approval

July 29, 2021

Efforts to bring casino gambling to Japan continue, with the possibility that the final layout of the country’s inaugural integrated resort (IR) market will be revealed within a year. While that is behind the original schedule, progress is being made and several locations expected to compete to be one of the first IR hosts are […]

By Erik Gibbs

Casino

No Shortage of Saipan Casino Interest If Imperial Pacific Given the Boot

July 23, 2021

The fate of Imperial Pacific International (IPI) and its continued presence in Saipan hangs in the balance. If the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) is concerned about the possibility of not finding someone to take the embattled casino operator’s place, those concerns can now be put to rest. Should casino regulators part ways with […]

By Erik Gibbs

Casino

Marina Bay Sands Halts Casino Operations in Singapore

July 22, 2021

As close as the world was to defeating COVID-19, the virus has proven to be more resilient than anticipated. Despite global vaccinations now being administered, there are pockets of outbreaks occurring that are causing stress levels everywhere to increase once again. The casino industry doesn’t want to have to suffer through another pandemic – nor […]

By Erik Gibbs

Casino

Sands China Boss Feels Macau Concession Extension Inevitable

July 22, 2021

Next year is an important year for casino operators in Macau. The six licensed operators have to prove to the city that they’re worthy of being issued a new concession, but there’s a problem. No one yet knows what is going to be expected of them moving forward. Without some idea of how Macau’s gaming […]

By Erik Gibbs

Sports

Olympics Betting to Be Popular, Just Not with Sportsbooks

July 21, 2021

The 2020 Summer Olympics have finally arrived. The first event, a softball game between Japan and Australia, was held today, officially marking the start of the competitions that were delayed a year because of COVID-19. These are the first Olympic Games to be held since states across the US began legalizing sports betting and, although […]

By Erik Gibbs

Casino

Imperial Pacific Forced to Watch as More Imperial Palace Assets Confiscated

July 20, 2021

At this point, Imperial Pacific International (IPI) is all but washed up in Saipan. The casino operator has bungled its Imperial Palace casino from the start and has never shown that it was willing to make even the tiniest effort to get on the right track. Things are going from bad to worse, with a […]

By Erik Gibbs

Industry

Former Caesars Casino Project in Midan City, South Korea Gets New Life

July 20, 2021

Everything seemed to be looking good for two new casino resort projects to come to South Korea, but then COVID-19 came in and ruined everything. Now, one of the projects, previously led by Caesars Entertainment, is coming back to life after its backers have found the money they need to fire up the construction equipment. […]

By Erik Gibbs

Industry

MGM Resorts Lays Out What It Will Pay For an IR in Osaka, Japan

July 19, 2021

Over the next 12 months, there should be a lot of forward progress made in Japan’s efforts to bring integrated resorts (IR) to the country. There are realistically only four areas that are in the race for one of the first three locations to be chosen, and Osaka is among them. Should it be selected, […]

By Erik Gibbs

Industry

Retrospective: These Are the Industry Stories Making Headlines This Week

July 16, 2021

It’s been an interesting week in the global gaming industry, as most of them are. There is never any shortage of activity, all of which is leading to something even bigger for everyone from players to operators to regulators. More than ever, everyone has to be on their toes to stay on top of the […]

By Filip Mishevski

Industry

COVID-19 restrictions are set to be eased in the Philippines

July 16, 2021

After suffering massive profit losses due to COVID-19, Metro Manila in the Philippines finally has some good news. The capital is set to ease off some of its restrictions and the spokesperson for President Rodrigo Duterte, Harry Roque, states that the general community quarantine will be in effect only until July 31. Casinos are affected, […]