Good morning.
The permission given to land-based operators in the Philippines to go online may have some sting in its tail in the form of exceptionally high tax rates. We take a deeper look at the enormous Greater Bay Area initiative. It carries significantly positive dimensions but, arguably, won’t necessarily help Macau to diversify its economy. Let the nail biting begin! Lawyers wrapping up the New South Wales inquiry have described Crown Resorts as “unsuitable” for operating a casino. The A$2.2 billion tower in Barangaroo, supposedly to open in December, hangs in the balance. No definitive word on the US election, yet.
First, the news
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“PIGO” tax rate to be set around 42.5 percent
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Crown Resorts unsuitable but can it keep its license?
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NSW Premier seeks advice on delaying Barangaroo opening
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Regulator gives nod to HatchAsia takeover of Silver Heritage
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Leadstar Media launches website comparing Australia betting sites
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Melbourne Cup punter a millionaire after $30 bet
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Macau plans large-scale events to lengthen stay
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Macau mulls further easing on entry requirements
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SJM expected to partially open Lisboa Palace in Q1
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South Shore board says efforts to wind up company negative for investors
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Yokohama anti-casino activists gather twice needed signatures for referendum
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Sega Sammy Holdings unloads most of its amusement facilities
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Grand Korea Leisure reports casino sales down nearly 70% in October
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SG reports Q3 revenues down 18.4% year-on-year
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IPI faces yet another lawsuit
What you need to know
Crown Resorts unsuitable but can it keep its license?
Crown Resorts management faces a nail-biting few months as regulators mull the fate of its Barangaroo license in Sydney after lawyers winding up an inquiry into the company found it “unsuitable.” The revelations of lapses in management and governance at Australia’s biggest casino operator have been coming for months now. Andrew Bell SC said he was making his recommendation that Crown was not suitable to hold a license due in part to the “deleterious” impact on governance of major shareholder James Packer.
“PIGO” tax rate to be set around 42.5 percent
The Philippines gaming regulator is looking to set a tax rate of 42.5 percent on online gaming GGR for land-based operators – which will be known as “PIGO” (Philippines Inland Gaming Operator), according to a source close to the matter. On top of this, operators will pay a 5 percent gaming systems fee to the regulator, meaning that they themselves will keep only around 28 percent of revenue gained from their online gambling operations.
Insights
DEEP DIVE
GBA project to benefit, but not necessarily diversify Macau
China’s enormous Greater Bay Area (GBA) initiative sets out an ambitious role for Macau as a center for entertainment, cultural exchange and Sino-Portuguese trade, though views are mixed on exactly how much it will help the Special Administrative Region diversify its gaming-centric economy. The GBA project, which was formalized in 2017, aims to link Hong Kong and Macau, together with nine other southern Chinese cities to create an economic hub comparable to the Greater Tokyo Area.
NIPPON WEEKLY:
Japan’s reluctant to tackle problem gambling
Among the issues that the Covid-19 pandemic has pushed away from national media attention in 2020 are the question of gambling addiction and the policies that will be needed when the first IRs presumably open later in this decade. There’s always been something mysterious about the Liberal Democratic Party’s lack of engagement with this issue. This seems to be a significant political opportunity that they simply refuse to grasp. The benefits of promoting a strong anti-addiction should be perfectly clear.
Supplier Special
MORE doesn’t just mean more games…

The idea of More. In One GO was rooted in the idea of giving our partners more in ALL areas. We are not just increasing the number of games that we release but delivering more quality, more innovation and more ways for their audiences to enjoy gaming.
Ainsworth and Jade ink distribution accord
Ainsworth Game Technology and Jade Entertainment have entered into an agreement to distribute Ainsworth Products to the Philippines, Vietnam, and Nepal. Ainsworth and Jade will introduce the impressive new A-STAR cabinet to the market.
AGB Initiatives
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