The United Arab Emirates (UAE) could offer a casino license to each of its seven emirates, according to a report from Bloomberg. The latest development follows the establishment of UAE’s future gambling regulator, the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) in September.

UAE Could Surpass Singapore in Gaming Revenue

UAE could be home to a gaming market potentially bigger than Singapore, with the country projected to generate up to US$6.6 billion in annual gaming revenue, Bloomberg reported. 

The granting of casino licenses will also allow all seven emirates to tap into the lucrative gaming market and boost their respective tourism industries.

However, it’s unclear at the moment whether all emirates would be open to the idea. So far, it’s only Ras Al Khaimah that has given the clearest indication yet of launching a casino, with Wynn Resorts set to develop a US$3.9 billion integrated resort with a gaming venue on Al Marjan Island which could open in 2027. 

Casino Not A Priority for Dubai

Citing sources, Bloomberg reported that Dubai has put casino plans on the back burner. Legalized gambling is currently not a priority for senior government officials as the city’s tourism is doing well, according to individuals with knowledge of the matter.

The popular Grand Lisboa casino and hotel in downtown Macau is set to go through a massive renovation in 2024. The flagship property of SJM Holdings opened up to the public back in 2007 and is now in need of an upgrade in order to compete with some of the more modern casinos on the Cotai strip.

Renovation To Commence Only In 2024

Daisy Ho Chiu Fung, chairman of SJM Holdings spoke to the media and confirmed that the renovation process for the Grand Lisboa casino and hotel will commence only in 2024. Daisy Ho said that the renovation process is currently in a planning stage and outlined some of the changes that the revamp will include.

The revamp will now make any changes in terms of addition extra hotel rooms as the current 431 hotel rooms and suites will be maintained. The revamp will include the opening of new restaurants, refurbishing hotel rooms and opening out new shops in the property. 

Grand Lisboa casino and hotel continues to be popular with patrons and had over 87 percent hotel room occupation rate during the first half of 2024. 

MGM Resorts International is used to dealing with lawsuits from patrons who have a variety of reasons for suing the casino operator. Dwight Manley has filed a federal lawsuit against the operator claiming that MGM Resorts had committed fraud and negligence against him that resulted in him losing millions. 

Manley Says Drink Was Spiked With Ketamine

Some may be familiar with the name Dwight Manley as he was the agent who once represented NBA star Dennis Rodman. Over the years, Manley has developed a reputation for betting big and that’s what he did one of MGM’s casino properties in Las Vegas that saw him lose millions.

Manley claims that during his time at the casino, someone decided to spike his drink with ketamine – a drug that is used to tranquilize animals. It was during this period that he acted erratic and ended up losing over $2 million. Manley alleges that MGM Resorts staff should have stopped him from playing but instead encouraged him to bet more.

Manley and his legal team have also promised a reward of $500,000 if they can find the individual who is alleged to have spiked his drink!

More details have emerged about the recent ransomware attack that hit MGM Resorts’ US operations, with the casino operator disclosing that the attack resulted in a $100 million loss for the company. Customers’ personal information was also compromised during the attack which was reported on September 11, affecting MGM’s primary website, in-casino services, and online reservation systems.

Cyber-attack Led to $100M Loss for MGM

In a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), MGM revealed that it suffered losses in earnings of $100 million due to the attack. On top of that, the company also recorded less than $10 million in one-time expenses for risk remediation and incident response measures which it says will be covered in full by its cybersecurity insurance.

The financial impact of the cyber-attack, which was later found to be perpetrated by a ransomware gang called “Scattered Spider”, will be mostly confined to MGM’s Q3 2023 results, the company stated.

Customers’ Personal Information Compromised 

MGM notified affected customers, including those who transacted with the firm before March 2019, that the hackers managed to steal their personal information, including their full name, phone number, e-mail address, passport number, driver’s license, and Social Security Number (SSN). 

MGM assured its patrons that their passwords, payment card information, and bank account numbers were spared from the cyber-attack.

Sands China Ltd will help revive the site of the old lec Long Firecracker Factory in Taipa Village, a popular culture and heritage destination in Macau. The factory, which was established in 1925 and closed down in 1984, underwent partial renovation last year and has since opened to the public as one of the city’s historical attractions.

Sands China to Add AR Experience to lec Long Firecracker Factory 

With Sands China’s new initiative, visitors to the lec Long Firecracker Factory will enjoy new features, including an augmented reality (AR)-assisted tour experience. The operator is embarking on the new project in cooperation with the Macau government as revitalization work on the historic site continues. 

Sands China’s president Wilfred Wong Ying revealed during a press briefing on September 29 that the AR initiative is now in the design stage and is expected to launch within the first half of 2024.  On top of that, the casino operator will also put up food and drinks outlets at the site, along with an art exhibit and other decorative items.

Redevelopment of Two Old Streets in Downtown Macau

Other culture and tourism projects that Sands China will be working on include the redevelopment of two historic streets in downtown Macau – the Patio da Eterna Felicidade and the Rua das Estalagens.