Asia

TAB New Zealand reported net profit for October of $15.8 million, which was $4.4 million above budget and $3 million above last year. Profit was driven by strong domestic and international racing and by the All Blacks' first international appearance since the Rugby World Cup. 

Imperial Pacific International's project director Jing Zhou has outlined a construction timetable for the resort, providing it has enough workers, saying Phase 2 of the hotel tower will be finished by the end of next year, while VIP gaming and the sky level should be finished by April 2022. 

A plea has been entered in the Delhi High Court seeking a direction to call on the central government to ban online gambling. The petition says that despite there being laws prohibiting online gambling in several states, there is still a large amount of betting activity across India. 

Grand Lisboa’s occupancy rate could reach about 50 per cent next month, its manager, Henry Kong Fuk Leung, said, explaining that Mainland Chinese may be attracted by the more festive atmosphere in Macau.

Vicky Melbourne, head of industrials, property and consumer for South Asia and Southeast Asia at Fitch Ratings, talks with Asia Gaming Brief managing editor Sharon Singleton about the impact of Covid-19 on the credit profile of the region’s operators.

There have been some positive reports this week, talking about optimism over Macau’s medium-term future, led by the premium mass and mass markets.

Shares in Ainsworth Game Technology fell 8.5 percent in Australian trading on Thursday after the company told investors that it expected to post a loss of about $15 million in the first half of the fiscal year, due to continuing difficult trading conditions.

Sands China President Wilfred Wong said the operator has been given a possible opening day in early February for the Londoner, formerly known as Sands Cotai Central. Wong didn't give a specific date.

The fallout from the inquiry into Crown Resorts' suitability to hold a license in Sydney may have ramifications for the entire industry in Australia, including tighter regulation, Fitch Ratings said in its 2021 outlook.

Genting Malaysia's Resorts World Genting said one of its security workers has tested positive for Covid-19 during routine health screening protocols. The company said the worker is receiving treatment at a government hospital and did not interact with guests.