Good morning.

As we wrap up another week, we are dedicating this week’s Face To Face video interview to a light-hearted discussion with futurist Earle Hall, revisiting the predictions that he made a year ago at the outset of the Covid era. What did he get right? What did he get wrong? And where are matters headed now? Our current affairs pieces deal with disparate topics. As for Macau, Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Rob Goldstein has said the company “firmly believes” the market will recover and will benefit in the future from infrastructure developments throughout the Greater Bay Area. In the Philippines, SunCity’s subsidiary is doubling down on its casino business by offloading its non-core property business. Finally, we note that the Japanese television airwaves are set to see the return of pachinko game machine advertising for the first time in a decade.

First, the news

Sands CEO says infrastructure development to benefit Macau
Digital yuan to change the game in Macau, curb junket use
Paradise Ent. swings to 2020 loss as revenue drops 70%
MGM China issues US$750 million in senior notes
U.S. tells Macau govt. to keep working on AML procedures
SunCity offloads property arm to focus on gaming
RWM parent announces free vaccines for all employees
Pachinko machine advertisements returning to Japanese TV after a decade
Jeju Dream Tower casino approved by provincial council
Berjaya CEO buys stake, plans to restructure group
Goa government reviewing casino legislation
IPI ordered to pay US$3 million to Pacific Rim
NatCen publishes major research into U.K. online gambling

What you need to know

Sands CEO says infrastructure development to benefit Macau

Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Rob Goldstein said the company “firmly believes” the Macau market will recover and will benefit in the future from infrastructure developments throughout the Greater Bay Area. Writing in the group’s 2020 annual report, Goldstein said the opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge was a “major milestone” that will help Macao grow tourism and MICE business in the years ahead.

Your Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: Revisiting Covid predictions

SunCity offloads property arm to focus on gaming

SunCity’s Philippines subsidiary, Suntrust Home Developers is doubling down on its Philippines casino business by offloading its non-core property business. According to a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Suntrust on Thursday disposed of its remaining 24.27 percent interest in First Oceanic Property Management Group (FOPM), a company that is primarily involved in the management of real estate properties in the Philippines.

Pachinko machine ads returning to Japanese TV after a decade

Beginning on April 1, viewers of Japanese commercial television stations may see something that hasn’t appeared in over a decade–advertisements of the pachinko machine industry. While some local television stations have carried ads for pachinko parlors or various industry CSR type messaging, there has been a self-imposed blanket ban on advertisements for new pachinko game machines in place since March 2011.

Insights

FACE TO FACE

Interview with Earle Hall: Revisiting covid predictions

Futurist and entrepreneur Earle Hall, CEO of AXES reflects on the sixteen predictions made nearly 12 months ago during the AGB Webinar: Life After Covid-19, which looked at how business and personal and work-life would change as a result of the pandemic. In this light-hearted interview, Earle catches up with Asia Gaming Brief editor Felix Ng on some of the expected, and unexpected trends to emerge from 12 months of the pandemic, giving his updated view of what the future holds.

Industry Updates

Sands team members awarded with Macau business diploma
SG to provide online content to Wind Creek casino
Sportradar signs media partnership to China’s CBA League
Sega Sammy pledges to combat anti-Asian hate in the United States

Corporate Spotlight

All set for the FBM slots expansion campaign

FBM has been developing its slots offer over the last three years, with operations established in Europe and North America. The company is now accelerating its slots expansion campaign in Asia with Ways and Easy$Link – the two lines of spin reel titles composing FBM’s value proposition for this specific game type.

Supplier Special

Zitro: Innovation and fun in bingo

Dragon lamp Progressive is the latest video bingo sensation from global gaming supplier Zitro, that is keeping players dazzled in the Philippines, and elsewhere in the world where it has been installed. Providing a 180 degrees spin to the traditional video bingo, this new system is called to change forever the way of playing video bingo.

SimplePlay: Vanessa saves the world

Slot provider SimplePlay has launched a new slot game, “Vanessa.” The game features a schoolgirl with special powers. In her world, a lady villain threatens the world and everyone’s survival. By transforming into a journalist, a police officer, or a warrior, Vanessa is doing all she can to stop the lady villain from ruling the world.