Your Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: Yokohama mayor race, who's your bet on?

Good morning. The mayoral race for Yokohama is entering its final stretch this week. With six anti-IR candidates out of eight total, two of which appear to be leading the race, it could very well be the end for IRs in Yokohama. Today’s infographic takes a look at the eight candidates, their position on IRs in Yokohama and the country, and their chances of securing the city’s top spot. In true gaming industry spirit, we’ve even come up with some odds to give you an idea of who’s likely to win based on current polling.

What you need to know

Bernstein says the Aug 3 discovery of new cases in Macau pushed down revenue in the second week by some 37%, predicting September to be “soft”.
Macau is recovering from the Covid scare, with entertainment venues to reopen on the Aug 18 and Red and Yellow zone lockdowns to end.
PAGCOR’s chair said they have set up “an investigative committee” to look at claims that Suncity has failed to return clients’ deposits.
Victoria has announced a strengthening of its lockdown restrictions in a bid to slow the spread of the Covid-19 virus, which has been ripping through the nation.
Daisy Ho has further increased her share in SJM Holdings after buying one million shares on August 11. This comes after the group opened its new flagship property on July 30.

On the radar

South Shore further delays publishing results, citing lack of funds
Imperial Pacific to consolidate shares in bid to boost price
Delta Corp. has been allowed to reopen its casino in Sikkim.
Mace, Tpm is working together to tackle the Asia IR market

What the papers say

MGM China has granted 250k shares under an employee share scheme.
Saipan Vegas has shut down its golf course after a doubling of license fees.
E-gaming clubs have obtained 900 signatures to repeal the new license fee.
TransAct has completed its $10.6 million public stock offering.
A construction worker fell to death at the Galaxy Macau expansion site.

AGB Intelligence

BY THE NUMB3RS

Yokohama mayoral race – Who’s your bet on?

A total of eight candidates are in the running for the Yokohama mayoral elections, set to take place this Sunday, August 22, 2021. Hanging in the balance is the fate of an integrated resort in the city. It is believed that the election of a strongly anti-IR candidate could see Melco Resorts and Entertainment and/or Genting Singapore left out in the cold with no license in Yokohama. That being said, in a recent report from Maybank, analysts are expecting the IR plans in Yokohama to go ahead, with Genting Singapore and Sega Sammy as the preferred bidder.