Australia, reloaded
The focus of this August edition of the AGBriefings magazine is Australia, where there is certainly a lot to talk about. The country has shown strong resilience in the past few months. It has a strong local market that has been stimulated by government support, resulting in solid numbers, even up until the most recent state lockdowns. Nonetheless, gaming has dominated the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
IN FOCUS: Australia
Crown case highlights lack of regulatory communication
Limited co-operation between AUSTRAC and casino regulators was identified as a factor that led to Crown's AML/CTF compliance and enforcing breaches.
AGE postponed, but Australia remains in focus
The Australasian Gaming Expo was forced to take the difficult decision in mid-July to postpone this month’s event until August next year due the ongoing Covid restrictions in New South Wales.
Technology to empower the gaming regulator
Former NSW gaming regulator Paul Newson calls for policy makers to give back power and funding to state gaming regulators - or risk another Crown Resorts debacle.
Covid curbs not as-bad-as-expected for floor yields
It has been over twelve months since casino properties around the world began re-emerging from their Covid-19 related lockdowns. No doubt, limits on customer numbers and distancing has hurt gaming revenue, but gaming industry executive David Croft says the increased spacing hasn’t hurt yields as much as one would expect.
Australia continues to prove tough nut for suppliers to crack
Australia has more than 8,000 bars, pubs and clubs, with many licensed to offer some kind of gaming product, over and above its regulated casinos, which should on the face of it provide an interesting opportunity for global suppliers.
Australian gaming takes a step forward with digital wallets
Digital gaming wallets are finally making their first inroads in Australia after years of stakeholder debate, with Australia’s first digital gaming wallet trial set to take place in an NSW club in the final quarter of 2021.
Do online responsible gambling tools work?
Findings from a recent study into the use of responsible gambling tools in Australia’s online gambling space will likely have researchers and regulators questioning the effectiveness of current policy.
JURISDICTIONS UPDATES
Operators eye China projects as governments push integration
As Macau and China step up cooperation in the Greater Bay Area, the territory’s operators are paying heed and turning their attention to opportunities on the Chinese Mainland.
HK/Macau travel bubble positive, but don’t expect a gold rush
The travel bubble that is being discussed between Hong Kong and Macau would be a positive step in opening up the market, but wouldn’t necessarily lead to a surge in gross gambling revenue for the territory.
Grand Lisboa Palace takes its place on Cotai after muted debut
SJM Holding’s long-awaited Grand Lisboa Palace made a low-key debut in late July, filling out the offering on the Macau Cotai Strip as the last major IR planned for Macau.
China soft power packs punch in online gambling crackdown
China’s crackdown on online cross border gambling is showing no signs of easing, with Beijing’s increasing deployment of soft power across Asia reducing safe havens for operators.
PIGO market gradually evolving, with restriction to VIP bets dropped
The Philippines is pushing on with efforts to develop its domestic online gambling market, with the regulator recently tweaking rules to lift a restriction on only accepting bets from VIP players.
Casinos shuttered on resurgent Covid
Up until February, Cambodia was one of the world’s Covid success stories, with very few cases and no deaths. That has now changed, with the government in Phnom Penh struggling to control an outbreak, resulting in the widespread closure of the country's casinos.
Clash of casino titans becomes a damp squib
The future shape of Japan’s IR casino industry is slowly beginning to take shape, but instead of a heated battle between the world’s gaming giants, regional governments have found themselves with limited choice in their potential gaming partners.
Saipan seeks to unravel IPI mess
Authorities in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands are considering a proposal for two gaming licenses for the island of Saipan if the monopoly permit of Imperial Pacific International is revoked.
Covid drives online growth, attracting foreign investor interest
India online gambling market has seen explosive growth during the Covid crisis and that’s showing no signs of slowing down as overseas investors increasingly target the market.
Ho Tram eyes more international/MICE business with rebrand
Vietnam’s first integrated resort Grand Ho Tram has completed its rebranding, which was designed to bring in more international travelers and take greater advantage of the country’s booming MICE space, although the grand unveiling has been put on hold due to the Covid situation.
INDUSTRY OPINION
Covid sparks innovation in domestic tourism
Covid has triggered a major tourism reset across Asia, with governments forced to pivot to the domestic market, which prior to the pandemic received little support in terms of finance and marketing.
LAST WORD
Managing Editor, AGB
Should Beijing’s economic rampage concern Macau?
Melco Resorts & Entertainment Chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho says he’s not expecting any nasty surprises from the upcoming concession renewals in Macau, although stock market investors are not so sure.
SUPPLIER SPECIAL REPORT
PREVIOUS EDITION
Asia Gaming Briefings – June 2021 Edition
For this edition of our magazine, we focus on Southeast Asia, with a particular look at the Philippines. The country’s casino industry has been among the hardest hit in Asia, with the integrated resorts in Manila’s Entertainment City having remained mostly closed to the general public since the beginning of the crisis last year.
