Japan
Yokohama City Council begins deliberations on IR referendum
The Yokohama City Council has begun its deliberations on whether or not to hold a popular referendum on IR development. Despite gaining more than three times the needed number of resident signatures, Mayor Fumiko Hayashi has asked that the referendum be rejected.
Suncity expansion plans to fire ahead
While the pandemic may have brought tourism to a standstill, Suncity Group Holdings is showing no indication of slowing down its expansion plans in tandem, announcing an ambitious range of targets for 2021.
Tomakomai city renews efforts to push Hokkaido governor on IR bid
Tomakomai Mayor Hirofumi Iwakura is stepping up his pressure on Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki to get behind the city’s desire to bid for an IR license. Iwakura has reiterated that the nine month delay in the national timeline should make a bid feasible.
Leading opposition party protests Yokohama mayor’s IR stance
The local chapter of Japan’s leading opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, has formally asked Yokohama Mayor Fumiko Hayashi to withdraw her comments to the city council that indicated her view that there is “no significance” to a popular referendum on IR development.
Seven IR operators investigating Nagasaki bid
The Nagasaki Prefectural Government has reportedly been successful in attracting up to seven operator bids for the IR candidate site at the Huis Ten Bosch theme park in Sasebo city.
Suncity announces development of Hokkaido resort
In a New Year message, the Suncity Group let drop that, in addition to other projects it has previously announced, it is also engaged in building a luxury resort in the ski resort of Niseko, Hokkaido.
Yokohama mayor argues IR needed to secure tax revenue
Yokohama Mayor Fumiko Hayashi continues her appeal to local residents to support IR development, arguing that it is a “powerful means” to secure needed tax revenues for social costs and more.
Tomakomai mayor presses Hokkaido to rejoin IR race
Tomakomai Mayor Hirofumi Iwakura has again pressed the Hokkaido prefectural authorities led by Governor Naomichi Suzuki to rejoin the IR race in the current cycle, arguing that the nine-month delay in the national licensing timeline provides adequate opportunity to resolve environmental and other concerns.
Nagasaki to begin RFP process on January 7
Nagasaki Governor Hodo Nakamura has announced that his prefecture’s RFP process would commence from January 7, showing his eagerness to get an early jump on compiling an IR licensing proposal that cannot be submitted until at least October, under the revised timeline.
Yokohama mayor violates promise to respect IR referendum
Yokohama Mayor Fumiko Hayashi is effectively violating her promise to respect the results of a popular referendum on IR development.
Life After POGOs – AGB Dossier
This Dossier results from the “Life After POGOs” editorial project by Asia Gaming Brief which culminated with a pop-up digital forum on 9th December to discuss potentials ramifications in the industry.
Australian market report: How to adapt to the new normal
Covid-19 forced the rapid and unexpected closure of venues across Australia, changing the operating environment with unprecedented speed and leaving managers scrambling to adapt...
Life After POGOs – AGB Pop-Up Forum
The Philippines and Asia’s online gaming industry is going through uncertain times, with the gaming regulator seeing more and more operators leaving the country for greener pastures.
Acquiring & Retaining iGaming Customers
In this AGB Webinar Series, we covered the newest strategies for iGaming player acquisition and retention.
Attracting players, not fraudsters
With sports betting restarting we are now seeing traffic levels return to pre-COVID levels. The same is unfortunately true for fraudulent activities as operators tempt players, both new and existing, with lucrative bonuses and attractive game offerings.
Asia Gaming Briefings – Dec 2020 Edition
Over the years, many of the answers have been remarkably prescient in their forecasts for the near-term direction of Asia’s gaming industry. However, we can safely say that no one came anywhere close to guessing
what 2020 may have had in store.
Asia Gaming Briefings – Nov 2020 Edition
While nowhere in the world has escaped the economic fallout from the Covid-19 crisis, Macau has been hit harder than most, with forecasts for gross domestic product to shrink more than 50 percent this year.
Asia Gaming Briefings – Oct 2020 Edition
Before the Covid-19 crisis, tourism in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region was at a record high, on track to welcome 80 million visitors in 2019, generating some $90 billion in revenue.