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.

Hachiro Okonogi, an anti-IR candidate with majority LDP backing remains being tipped as the most likely winner of this Sunday’s mayoral race in Yokohama, though gaming and hospitality expert Daniel Cheng says this does not necessarily mean it's all over for an IR in the city. 

The Philippines' gross gaming revenue (GGR) growth is "still filled by the regulatory framework," Daniel Cheng told AGB on the sidelines of the ASEAN Gaming Summit.

Thailand's push towards legalizing casinos took a significant step forward with the completion of a draft bill by a parliamentary committee. The legislation, analyzed by Daniel Cheng, aims at establishing a framework for integrated entertainment complexes featuring casinos, and will be read in the House of Representatives later this month.

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 recent decision by Japanese authorities to reject the proposal for a new IR in Nagasaki has created a new Asian casino monopoly. Expert Daniel Cheng points out the political machinations that brought about the outcome and the risks now being taken, both by the lone IR operator in Osaka, and the government.

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. Industry expert and author Daniel Cheng outlines the current hindrances and expectations after a decades-long battle.

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.

Thailand’s casino legislation could occur as quickly as next year, notes expert Daniel Cheng, as he examines the shifting framework of political influence. A progressive stance of the government, with a somewhat unified front, is calming investors looking to capitalize off the change, with questions now on exactly where potential integrated resorts should be located.