Good morning,

The latest in our Face To Face video interview series features Ankush Gera, founder and CEO of Junglee Games, who tells us about the growth of the skill-based gaming market in industry in India, some of the regulatory and operating challenges in the country, and what’s driving growth. We also take note of major developments in Japan, which is now locking down more seriously, including a total ban on non-resident foreigners entering the nation. Finally, we feature the latest analysis by Moody’s which looks at the current prospects of Melco Resorts & Entertainment.

First, the news

Moody’s sees slow 2021 start for Melco, rising debt
Macau police indicts four over fake VIP gaming chips
Macau Gaming Service Index improves in Q4, staff smile more
G2E Asia pushed back to August in Macau
Japan closes borders to foreign travelers
Caesars Korea may lose its licence in March
Political shift in CNMI may signal more trouble for IPI
Sportradar to be distribution partner for Asian Football Confederation
Everi’s David Lucchese appointed AGEM president

What you need to know

Moody’s sees slow start for Melco, rising debt

The New Year has brought little reprieve to Macau’s gaming operators, with analysts scaling back their expectations for the first half of 2021 amidst new outbreaks of Covid-19 across the region. Moody’s Investors Service is the latest to weigh in, assigning a Ba2 rating with a negative outlook to Melco Resorts Finance’s recently announced senior unsecured note issue due 2029. The firm expects parent company Melco Resorts & Entertainment to see a sluggish earnings recovery at a time debt is rising.

Your Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: Skills for operating in India — Morpheus

Japan closes borders to foreign travelers

After reaching record numbers of new Covid-19 cases and fatalities for almost two months, the Japan government has finally decided to take serious measures to partially lock down the nation. Among the most dramatic of these moves is to effectively ban the entry of non-resident foreigners from all nations. After some days of hesitation, this was also extended to the cancellation of business traveler arrangements which had earlier been reached with eleven Asian nations and territories, namely Cambodia, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Insights

FACE TO FACE

Ankush Gera: Skills for operating in India

Ankush Gera, founder and CEO of Junglee Games, talks with Asia Gaming Brief Managing Editor Sharon Singleton about the growth of the skill-based gaming market in industry in India, some of the regulatory and operating challenges and what’s driving growth.