Your Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: Harmonized, national approach to regulation needed

Good Morning. Last week, we attended Regulating The Game 2022, a five-day educational program gathering lawyers, regulators, and operators from Australia's gaming and wagering industry.  One of the most consistent themes from the event was a call for a more consistent approach to regulation across Australia's states, territories and industry sectors. Today, we're wrapping up the key themes and highlights of the event. 

What you need to know

• An independent review into Star Entertainment’s suitability to hold a casino license in Sydney is set to become public and will examine possible criminal infiltration.
• MGM China said it may be required to pay out $25.8 million in three lawsuits brought by players claiming that two junkets had failed to refund cash deposits.
• A planned IR on the site of the Huis Ten Bosch theme park in Japan’s Nagasaki Prefecture will cost about $3.7 billion and will open in 2027.
• Las Vegas Sands CEO Rob Goldstein says that the company is in talks to build an integrated resort “to the scale of Marina Bay Sands” at a “top tier” country in Asia, without giving further details.

On the radar

• Online now accounts for 80% of sports betting at Singapore Pools.
• India bettors to get access to U.S./Australia racing through XB Net deal.
• Return of China tour groups still a long way off, says MGTO.
• Hong Kong not yet at Covid-19 peak, says Lam.

What the papers say

• Cambodia Labor Ministry tells workers to end Nagacorp protests.
• Philippines online cockfighting bringing in billions in wagers.
• NUSTAR teams gets assurances of support from Cebu Chamber of Commerce.
• Macau increases Covid checks for those that enter multiple times daily.

AGB Intelligence

DEEP DIVE

Harmonized, national approach to regulation needed: RTG 2022

Industry Updates

• APE announces installation of Spintec Karma GEN 2 in Macau IR.
• VGCCC appoints Annette Kimmitt as new chief executive.

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