Asia Gaming Briefings – December 2021 Edition


What’s next for Asian gaming?

In what has now become an Asia Gaming Brief tradition, the Focus Section of our December magazine takes a look at the year in review and asks for forecasts on how the year ahead may evolve. In the following articles, you will find those predictions from a selection of leading figures in Asia’s gaming industry.

We also focus on some key themes that have emerged throughout the year and look at how they may impact the industry moving forward. As the region starts to reopen to international tourism, the industry is likely to be facing a giant China-shaped hole in its visitation numbers and spending.



In Focus: Reviews and forecasts Asia’s turn to rebound?


Focusing on the future, learning lessons from the past

In what has now become an Asia Gaming Brief tradition, the Focus Section of our December magazine takes a look at the year in review and asks for forecasts on how the year ahead may evolve. In the following pages you will find those predictions from a selection of leading figures in Asia’s gaming industry.

Hopeful for recovery, but caution abounds

Looking back at last year’s predictions, few were super bullish about a quick snap back in Asia, although no one anticipated the devastating impacts of the new variants either.

Can Asia’s operators fill the China tourism hole?

China’s outbound tourism market is unlikely to return to pre-pandemic levels until at least 2024, the Economist Intelligence Unit predicts, leaving a giant hole for Asia’s gambling jurisdictions and a headache for executives as to how to fill it.

SE Asia needs to step up AML actions, focus on junkets

Jurisdictions in South East Asia need to become more proactive in their anti-money laundering efforts to avoid reputational damage from being placed on “grey” or “black” lists.

Hospitality staffing headaches seen reaching crisis levels in 2022

After months of shutdown, the global hospitality industry is finally starting to show signs of a rebound, with hundreds of thousands of hotels, restaurants, pubs, and clubs reopening for the first time after a very long hibernation. 

JURISDICTIONS UPDATES


The year the game changed

Macau’s gaming industry is now heading towards “healthy and sustainable” development, the government said after a tumultuous few months that have led to the virtual collapse of the junket agents and the VIP business they were instrumental in building.

The setting Sun

Macau’s arrest and detention of Alvin Chau, head of the Suncity Group, is expected to accelerate the demise of the junket industry that helped to create the world’s largest gambling hub.

New resorts on track for opening as outlook improves

The Hann Casino Resort in Clark City held a soft opening in mid-December, while the NUSTAR Resort on Cebu is on track for a March debut as the Philippines emerges from lockdown.

Genting outlook brightens as SkyWorlds opens

The crown jewel in Genting Malaysia’s $2.4 billion revamp of Resorts World Genting is making its debut this month, with analysts expecting the attraction to deliver a significant boost to visitation.

Could the Thai IR dream come true this time around?

While the industry isn’t waiting with baited breath, there was a rare piece of good news to emerge recently that Thailand’s government is prepared to take another look at introducing regulated casinos.

Cambodia bucks regional trend, pushes ahead with reopening

Cambodia is bucking the regional trend in pushing ahead with the reopening of its international borders, despite the Omicron variant, although another threat has emerged in the form of increased scrutiny of visitors from China.

Smart Racing Park to boost Incheon visitation

Paradise SegaSammy’s Phase 2 development will include the development of a “Smart Racing Park,” with Incheon International Airport, which is expected to provide a significant boost to visitation of the zone.

AIGF urges states to work with industry as court cases grind on

The All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) is urging state governments to work with the skill-based online industry to develop a regulatory framework that will benefit all stakeholders.

Pubs and clubs in cross hairs after latest AML accusations

Australia’s gambling industry is heading into the New Year with no signs of an end to regulatory upheavals, as pubs and clubs come under the money laundering spotlight.

THE YEAR AHEAD


LAST WORD


Time for legal clarity

It’s been a bombshell end of year for Macau and not in a good way. The arrest of Suncity CEO Alvin Chau at the end of November saw the city’s VIP and junket industry unravel at breakneck speed.

SUPPLIER SPECIAL REPORT


Recovery patchy, but better for most

It’s been an uneven recovery in the gaming world. Asia remains mostly closed for all but essential travel, while Europe and North America are back in full swing.

Asia Gaming Briefings – November 2021 Edition

Lack of detail in the proposed amendments to Macau’s gaming legislation left the market to speculate on the government’s intentions, with disastrous effects. The subsequent round of public consultation came and went leaving the industry with even more questions and few answers.