Global Casino Industry Juiced for Japan

by Muhammad Cohen

The world’s casino business sees Japan’s casino legalization as a golden opportunity and, even amid the ongoing recovery in Macau, the gaming industry is all abuzz about it.  One unscientific indicator: I’m a speaker at next month’s Japan Gaming Congress in Tokyo and I’ve had several industry friends ask for my help to get them on the conference program.  More scientifically, a study by Global Market Advisors indicates, no matter how Japan plays casino legalization – or, as supporters would prefer, integrated resort development – it will be the second biggest market in Asia and number three in the world, behind U.S. and Macau.  That explains why Las Vegas Sands founder Sheldon Adelson says his company will invest $10 billion in a Japan integrated resort, and Melco Resorts and Entertainment Chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho says his company will spend “whatever it takes” to secure a Japan gaming license.  But the multiple scenarios also underline how little anyone knows about Japan has in mind for development of its so-called IRs.

You can read the rest of the article here

Strip of Japan casinos could rival Las Vegas, others

by Richard N. Velotta

A worldwide gaming and hospitality consultant has issued a report that says a strip of full-scale resorts on Osaka’s Yumeshima island in Japan could generate $10.9 billion a year in gaming revenue and rival Las Vegas, Macau and Singapore as a tourism destination.

Please read the rest of the article here

GMA’s Galaviz shifts to Trump administration advisory role

Global Market Advisors LLC (GMA), a U.S. based consulting firm to the casino gaming, hotel and airline industries, has confirmed that Jonathan Galaviz, one of the firm’s partners, has accepted a position with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

You can read the rest of the article here

Silver Heritage Casino Hotel in Nepal Has A Mountain To Climb

by Muhammad Cohen

Frontier market specialist Silver Heritage Group’s casino project in Nepal targeting Indian visitors is over budget and will miss its scheduled opening this month.  That’s led to a suspension of trading in the company’s shares in Australia, a revamp of project management and a new fund raising exercise.  None of that means Tiger Palace Resort at Bhairahawa, the first purpose built integrated resort in South Asia, is a bad idea.

You can read the rest of the article here

Macau Comes To America On Pacific Island Saipan

by Muhammad Cohen

A Hong Kong billionaire and her son appear to be building a casino juggernaut on a remote U.S. outpost, the island of Saipan.  A shiny beachfront casino-hotel is under construction, but meanwhile Chinese gamblers are betting huge amounts on their temporary casino in a nearby shopping mall – or at least it seems so.

You can read the rest of the article here

Shaun McCamley: Take a second look on social games

by Stephanie Raquel

No one can deny the popularity of mobile phones worldwide.  In fact, analysts are predicting that the number of mobile phone users in the world is expected to hit the 5 billion mark by 2019.

You can read the rest of the article here

ASEAN Gaming Summit interviews Vietnam experts

In mid-January 2017, Vietnam finally lifted its long-standing ban on domestic gambling, allowing Vietnamese locals to enter select casinos in the country.

You can read the rest of the article here

Galaviz: Airline CTOs and CIOs need to be at same level as CFO.

You can watch the interview here

From India’s Rise To Macau’s Rebound: A Look Back At Asia’s Casinos In 2016

by Muhammad Cohen

It’s time to check on my Asian gaming predictions for 2016.  As seen in my crystal ball, a half-scale Eiffel Tower has helped Macau climb back to growth.  The Philippines has been the top performing casino market in the region.  The moment of truth for Indian gaming is coming.  Asian casino operators increased their presence in Europe.  Shanghai Disneyland has been a hit but hasn’t stopped Macau’s turnaround.  Let’s look at last January’s forecasts in depth.

You can read the entire article here

Japan Rolls the Dice

by Muhammad Cohen

When Genting Group Executive Chairman and CEO Lim Kok Thay said in November that Genting Singapore was pulling out of its US$1.8 billion integrated resort project in Jeju, South Korea, to focus on casino development in Japan, many snickered.  Over the past 18 months, Korea has gone from hot to not in gaming circles as it became clear the new IRs would not be open to locals, so it wasn’t surprising that Genting would abandon an expensive project with limited prospective returns.

You can read the entire article here (please go to page 6)