All six incumbent casino concessionaires in Macau will continue to operate in the region for the next 10 years after they were listed as “provisional winners” in the new gaming tender process. The preferred bids were announced during a press briefing on November 26, 2022.

MGM China Gets Highest Score

Topping the list was MGM China Holdings Ltd, followed by Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd. The four other existing casino concessionaires in Macau, Sands China Ltd, Melco Resorts and Entertainment Ltd, Wynn Macau Ltd, and SJM Holdings Ltd were also on the list. 

Each of the six casino concessionaires was awarded a provisional license under an executive order signed by Macau’s Chief Executive Ho lat Seng. 

Their proposals met all of the requirements for securing a new 10-year gaming concession contract in the region, according to Secretary for Administration and Justice André Cheong Weng Chon, who serves as head of a special commission supervising the gaming tender procedure. 

Genting Malaysia Unsuccessful 

As earlier predicted by investment analysts and gaming experts, Genting Malaysia’s subsidiary GMM Ltd failed in its bid for a Macau casino license. Mr. Cheong was asked by some members of the media about the possibility of Genting securing a partnership with any of the six incumbent casino concessionaires, but he refused to answer, saying it was a “hypothetical question”.

Japan’s integrated resort (IR) plans will enable the country to enjoy the same benefits currently experienced by Singapore through its two casino resorts, according to asset management services provider Schroders Capital.

IRs to Attract More Inbound Visitors, MICE business

In its latest report, the company said Japan’s IR complexes would draw significant tourist numbers just like Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa. 

Additionally, the Japanese IR industry would also provide a huge boost to the country’s meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) sector, according to Andrew Haskins, who works at Schroders Capital as the Head of Strategy and Investor Advisory, Real Estate APAC.

Citing data from the Japan Tourism Agency, the report said that in 2019, prior to the pandemic, inbound visitors accounted for 37 percent to 39 percent of total guest stays in three of Japan’s largest tourism markets – Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. The country’s tourism and hospitality sector is recovering well, though current figures are still below 2019 levels. 

Japan will see a major rebound in inbound visitor numbers as the country recently eased its travel restrictions. The “continuing weakness” of the yen will also lead to more tourists visiting the country, the report said. 

Japan’s Hospitality Sector Recovering Fast

It also noted that while Singapore is currently ahead of other Asia-Pacific countries in the hospitality recovery race, Japan will not be far behind, and the proposed IRs have the potential to elevate the numbers.

Osaka and Nagasaki both submitted their IR district development plans to the national government in April 2022. The proposals are still being considered by a review committee.

A court in New Jersey has been granted a 90-day stay concerning a decision to throw out a state law that would give huge tax breaks to Atlantic City casinos. 

Judge Grants 90-Day-Stay Pending Appeal

On August 29, 2022, Superior Court Judge Michael Blee ruled that changes to the casino payments-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) law which were passed and approved by the state in 2021 were enacted on dubious grounds and were in breach of the state Constitution as the amendments were made in favor of the industry and not for a public purpose. 

Non-profit organization Liberty and Prosperity filed the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the PILOT law amendments which would see casinos enjoy tens of millions of dollars in tax breaks by cutting out online gambling and sports betting revenues from calculations of gross gaming revenue (GGR).

In September, the state filed a motion for a stay of the ruling as it appeals the case to the Supreme Court. 

Status Quo Must be Maintained as Parties Await Decision from Higher Court

Granting the 90-day-stay, Judge Blee said the status quo must be maintained until a higher court gives its decision on the constitutionality of the 2021 legislation, adding that the state was right to ask for a stay as the case revolves around a constitutional issue.

Robbi Jade Lew is keen on proving her innocence in the ongoing Hustler Casino Live (HCL) scandal. After previously refusing to file charges against Bryan Sagbigsal, a member of the production team who was caught on camera and admitted to stealing $15K in chips from her, Lew has had a change of heart and now wants to pursue a case against him.

Lew to File Charges Against HCL Employee

Lew shared on social media the steps she has taken so far to prove her accusers wrong. She said she already met with authorities to formalize her filing of charges against Sagbigsal whom her critics speculated to be her accomplice in the alleged cheating. Lew also said she had her mobile records examined to verify that she had no communication with Sagibsal.

Lew also recently underwent a polygraph test in Las Vegas regarding the incident and the results show “No Deception Detected”. While this type of test isn’t 100% reliable and cannot be presented as evidence in court, it’s giving the assumption that Lew most likely didn’t cheat. 

Cheating Allegations Continue despite Polygraph Test Result

Despite the results of the lie detector test and Lew’s recent efforts to clear her name, many are still not convinced she was totally innocent, including prominent poker players such as Bill Perkins and Tom Dwan. But some are siding with Lew on the issue, saying there was no cheating and Garrett Adelstein was simply “butthurt” he was defeated by a newbie.

A veteran promoter in Macau says a handful of junkets are still operating at selected Macau casinos even though the VIP gambling market in Macau has shrunk significantly in the last 24 months.

Veteran Promoter Runs Junkets at MGM Casinos

U lo Hong is an experienced VIP promoter/junket operator, having facilitated VIP gaming in Macau for several years. Hong confirmed he is currently running VIP play in the city via his licensed gaming promoter entity Pacific Intermediário Sociedade Unipessoal Lda. The junkets have been operating at MGM Macau and MGM Cotai for about six months now through a partnership with their parent company, MGM China Holdings Ltd. 

Hong also said he has adopted a new business model for his junket business, which now operates through a rolling-chip program rather than the traditional revenue split with the partner casino. He also confirmed that he is no longer getting players from mainland China as the government continues its crackdown on cross-border gambling involving Chinese nationals.

At Least Two Macau Concessionaires Hosting VIP Play 

According to industry sources, there are at least two gaming concessionaires in Macau hosting junkets at their properties. Macau’s junket industry had shrunk significantly following the arrest of junket moguls Alvin Chau Cheok Wa of Suncity Group and Levo Chan Weng Lin of Tak Chun Group in November 2021 and January 2022 respectively.