Thailand is moving at lightspeed in paving the way for integrated resorts in the country. Senior Gaming Executive Daniel Cheng breaks down where the IRs could be located, what scale of investment tranches are available, bipartisan support, likely rules for locals and the country’s main objective of ensuring its tourism destination dominance in the region.

PH Resorts, developer of the Emerald Bay resort in Cebu is looking to attract Japan VIP players after signing an accord with junket operator ASKI Japan.

The 2nd day of the ASEAN Gaming Summit 2024 was full of surprises with the winners of this year's Asia Gaming Awards unveiled, and a crowded series of panels with experts covering gaming markets as diverse as Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia, Japan, the UAE, and even the Pacific Islands.

Thailand is making a significant stride towards gaming legalization.

The recent decision by Japanese authorities to shoot down a proposed IR project in Nagasaki is sending shockwaves across the industry, but the ripples have been anticipated. Expert Daniel Cheng notes how unlikely it was that the second IR proposal in the country would move forward, given the political climate, and the implications a casino monopoly could have both for the operator in Osaka and the nation.

The first legal casino is set to open in the western Kansai region of Japan in 2030. Yet, fate has been the most fickle of friends in the Japanese IR story where the only constant is change, and every step seems to be into the great unknown. The path to casino legislation in Japan paved a script weighed on a central theme of mania characterized by dizzying bouts of ups and downs where optimism and exhilaration intersperse with bewilderment and dismay.

Casino legislation in Thailand is progressing smoothly, as political parties are aligning and support is being put behind the push, meaning legislation could be seen as early as next year. Expert Daniel Cheng points out the divides that are being overcome and the issues which are faced as the nation seeks to attract investment. Meanwhile, locations are being scouted, with Bangkok and Phuket seen as heavy hitters due to infrastructure.

Macau says to cut transportation services in anticipation of super typhoon Saola, which is expected to move towards the gaming hub on Friday.

The number of commercial flights to Macau in June went up by some 525 percent yearly, topping 3,281, while those in the first half-year rose by 184.6 percent yearly, to 15,617, however official data show that foreign visitors to the SAR are still at just 30 percent of 2019 levels.

Artistic swimming, often hailed as “water ballet”, will soon make a grand splash at the “MGM Artistic Swimming Elite Extravaganza & Macao Open Artistic Swimming Competition 2023” this month.