Good Morning. The idea of spending 21 days locked in a small hotel room in Macau is enough to stymie the wanderlust of even the most dedicated traveller. However, as we enter the third year of the pandemic, some have not been able to avoid making a trip. In this week’s Face-to-Face interview, we talk with Scientific Games’ Jim Preston who tells us about his experiences and offers up some survival tips.
What you need to know
- Macau gross gaming revenue reached MOP6.3 billion ($785.2 million) in January, falling 20.9 percent year-on-year from 2021, according to figures from the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau.
- Macau’s Public Prosecutions Office says that Tak Chun CEO Levo Chan is suspected of being the head of a triad gang, which carries the penalty of up to 15 years in prison if found guilty.
- Philippines’ gaming regulator, PAGCOR reported income from gaming operations of P32.6 billion for the year ended December 31, 2021.
- A two year Senate investigation has revealed a “clear-link” between the rise of the POGO industry and a surge of prostitution and human trafficking cases prompting the senator in charge of the investigation to look into suspending POGO operations.
- Aristocrat Leisure said it will accelerate its plans to expand into real money gaming after its GBP2.7 billion offer to buy Playtech was thwarted by a group of mystery investors.
On the radar
- Donaco posted an EBITDA loss for the December quarter.
- LRWC gets license for Philippines’ first online bingo.
- Macau Legend shares sank 19.3% on Mon after the arrest of CEO Levo Chan.
- Illegal betting sites have taken to socials to spam potential bettors in HK.
- Saipan to decide on IPI’s license fate in March.
What the papers say
- IPI faces new discrimination lawsuit from former workers.
- Tina Sablan says she is shocked IPI’s license is still standing.
- New gaming law won’t impact social security: Wong Sio Chak.
- Former Crown CEO Barry Felstead disputes seven RC findings against him.
AGB Intelligence
FACE-TO-FACE
Survival tips for Macau quarantine – plan for food deliveries
As we enter the third year of the pandemic, it’s inevitable that some folks in the industry are going to need to travel to, or from, Macau. In this week’s Face-to-Face interview, we speak with Jim Preston, product director, ETS, with Scientific Games, who recently did a three-week stint locked in a Macau hotel room…and not one of the luxury versions. He shares his experiences and offers up some tips for survival. Having regular food deliveries might be advisable, he says.
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