A Harry Potter-themed exhibition will visit one of Macau’s casinos, The Londoner Macao, this December. The Cotai property, owned and operated by Sands China Ltd, announced that “Harry Potter: The Exhibition” will open on December 15, 2023, with visitors getting the chance to enjoy all things Harry Potter at the venue daily from 11:00am – 7:00pm. 

What’s In Store at the Exhibition

Harry Potter: The Exhibition, which is currently on a world tour, celebrates the iconic moments, characters, and settings in the Harry Potter film series and the Wizarding World. Spectators get to explore behind-the-scenes moments from the popular movie series and embark on a personalized journey through interactive storytelling and immersive technology. 

The exhibition, which is billed as the “most comprehensive” Harry Potter-related exhibition of its type, comes to Londoner Macao through the efforts of Imagine Exhibitions, Inc., Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment, and EMC Presents LLC which are the organizers of the spectacle.

Tickets Currently Available

Tickets are now on sale and available until February 29, 2024. Guests of all ages may enjoy the exhibition. 

Hosting the event is part of Sands China Ltd’s non-gaming commitment in Macau, with the casino operator investing MOP27.8 billion over the next 10 years in non-gaming projects aimed at attracting foreign visitors.

The government of Nepal has been told to strengthen its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing policies, especially in the gambling industry. The Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering identified Nepal as a country that is exposed to money laundering threats from neighboring jurisdictions because of its unprotected borders and close economic and trade links to other nations.

Criminals Laundering Money at Casinos in Border Region

The APG examined Nepal’s vulnerability to money laundering and found that criminals target casinos, particularly in the border region, to launder proceeds of their illegal activities carried out elsewhere. In its report, the inter-governmental organization stated that Nepal’s casinos operate under an “unclear regulatory framework”, making them prone to criminal activities. 

The APG also noted that Nepalese authorities don’t have adequate measures in place when granting casino licenses, with applications not thoroughly reviewed. For instance, in the last five years, the agency that has oversight of the casino industry, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, approved the applications of all 19 new casinos.

At the moment, Nepal is home to a total of 28 licensed casinos, some of which are located near the Indian border. 

Nepal Not Fully Compliant with FATF Recommendations

According to the APG, Nepal also failed to fully comply with recommendations from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) regarding supervision of the country’s casino industry.

The APG report calls on the Nepalese government to improve risk-based supervision of certain sectors, and the casino industry must be given top priority.

Melco International Development Ltd, the parent company of Hong Kong-based casino operator Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd, revealed that it has entered into a settlement agreement with the gambling regulator of the Australian state of New South Wales in relation to a case concerning Melco’s acquisition of shares in Crown Resorts Ltd in 2019.

Litigation Stemmed from 2019 Acquisition Deal

Melco International originally planned to acquire a 19.99 percent stake in Crown Resorts under a US$1.2 billion deal which would be completed in two installments. 

The first installment saw Melco purchase almost a 10 percent stake in 2019 from Crown’s then-largest shareholder, James Packer. But in 2020, the company decided not to proceed with the previously agreed transaction and subsequently sold its Crown shares at a 37.3% discount. 

Melco Settles ILGA Dispute

In the same year, Crown became the subject of a licence suitability inquiry in New South Wales. The probe also examined if the acquisition deal between Crown and Melco constituted a breach of the former’s restricted gaming licence for its Sydney casino. The Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) determined that Melco should pay AUD3.7 million (approximately US$2.4 million) over issues with its 2019 transaction with Crown.

In a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on August 31, Melco confirmed that the case has been settled, though it did not delve into the details of the settlement deed.

Bedford, New Hampshire representative Laurie Sanborn has stepped down as chairperson of a Commission examining the state’s charitable gaming industry. The Republican legislator and her husband, former state Senator Andy Sanborn, are currently being investigated over fraud allegations. The couple owns a bar and casino in Concord.

COVID-19 Relief Allegedly Used to Purchase Luxury Cars

Sanborn decided to resign from her post to avoid distractions from the good work they intend to do, according to House Speaker Sherm Packard. Her husband is being accused of fraudulently obtaining $844,000 in funding under a federal COVID-19 relief program facilitated by the Small Business Association. 

The former senator allegedly spent a significant portion of the funds on luxury vehicles, including two Porsche cars valued at $181,000 and a Ferrari for his wife worth $80,000. The attorney general’s office has confirmed they’re investigating the matter.

Casino Licence at Risk

The Sanborns previously received approval to develop a larger venue near their Concord casino, but after the fraud allegations erupted, their casino licence is now at risk of permanent cancellation by the New Hampshire Lottery Commission. 

Andy Sanborn denied the accusations, saying their actions were transparent and within the law.

Crown Resorts has decided to close one of its two gaming floors at its newly-opened Sydney property due to what it called “macro-economic challenges”. An Asian gaming expert said the decision came as a result of the ongoing crackdown on illegal gambling and junkets in China which has been the top source of high-spending VIP customers.

VIP Market Shrinking Due to China’s Junket Crackdown 

Crown Sydney, which began operating in August 2022 under a conditional license, originally had two gaming floors both dedicated to high rollers but they will now be consolidated into just one gaming area due to lower-than-expected visitor numbers. The closure of the “Mahogany” floor resulted in nearly 100 job losses, though Crown stated that the affected employees would be transferred to its other properties in Australia.

Macau-based Asian gaming consultant Ben Lee said Crown Resorts Sydney could not rely on VIP players nowadays, especially with China’s ongoing crackdown on junkets. He also does not expect Australia’s VIP market to bounce back fast even though the gaming sector in South East Asia is continuing to recover.

Pokie Machines a Viable Option for Crown Sydney

Crown Sydney’s casino business may still thrive if the operator considers other options, such as setting up pokie machines, according to Dr. Charles Livingstone who works at Monash University as a gambling researcher. 

Agreeing with Livingstone’s views, Lee said that while Crown Sydney is not allowed to run pokie machines at the moment, it’s not entirely impossible, given that the casino already offers electronic table games.