Your Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: Illegal online gambling booming through the pandemic: Purbrick

Friday 28th of May 2021

Good morning.
The highly-infectious Indian strain of the covid-19 virus has infiltrated both Australia and Macau, both seen as having done well in terms of low covid-19 numbers in the past. The cases are still low at the moment, and it's all up to health authorities and the public to stop the clusters from exploding.
Meanwhile, cruise operator Genting Hong Kong will be able to begin offering “seacations” in Hong Kong starting July, which it hopes will be able to bolster revenues.
Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment have appointed Ray Pineault a new president and CEO, effective immediately. He had been acting as Interim CEO for since the end of March, when the tribal operator announced that his predecessor Mario Kontomerkos would be replaced.
Our Face-to-Face interview today is with Martin Purbrick, who recently helped author a report on illegal online gambling in collaboration with the Asian Racing Federation. He speaks about the boom in illegal online gambling during the pandemic and risks for sports integrity.

First, the news

“Seacations” offer Genting HK potential revenue relief
HK to begin cruises to nowhere from July
Highly-infectious covid variant seeps into insulated markets
POGO tax bill reaches senate
S&P expecting strong recovery in Philippines in 2021 and 2022
Genting Malaysia gets nod for New York electronic gaming parlour
IPI appeals suspension of gaming license order
Macau hotel check-ins surge 550 % in April
Get Nice flags positive profit for year ended Mar 31
NagaCorp shareholders greenlight 2020 final dividend

What you need to know

Highly-infectious covid variant seeps into insulated markets

The new highly contagious Indian covid-19 variant has been making its way to what has been seen as more insulated regions from the pandemic, making its way to Macau and Australia in recent days. This week, Macau health authorities confirmed that the man identified as the city’s 51st case of covid-19 was carrying the highly contagious Indian variant. Meanwhile, Victoria, the home to Crown Melbourne is now under a seven-day lockdown after the city acquired 12 new locally acquired cases of covid-19. The cases have all been linked to the Indian strain of the coronavirus, which is known to be highly infectious.

“Seacations” offer Genting HK potential relief

Genting Hong Kong, which this week said it was assessing whether it has enough financial resources to continue operating, will be permitted to offer “seacation” cruises from Hong Kong from July. The Hong Kong government has allowed the resumption of operations for fully vaccinated passengers, with the ships only able to operate at 50 percent capacity. The cruises are strictly at sea only, with no port visits.

Mohegan names Pineault president and CEO

Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment has announced the appointment of Ray Pineault as its new president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. He had been acting as Interim CEO for since the end of March, when the tribal operator announced that his predecessor Mario Kontomerkos would be replaced. Mohegan’s main connections to the Asian market at present are the been building the Inspire Korea IR in Incheon, South Korea, and the partnership with Oshidori in a bid to build an IR in Nagasaki, Japan.

Insights

FACE TO FACE: MARTIN PURBRICK

Illegal online gambling booming through the pandemic

Martin Purbrick, director of Purbrick & Associates, who consults on risk related issues with a special focus on sports betting and integrity, speaks with Asia Gaming Brief Managing Editor Sharon Singleton about the boom in illegal online gambling during the pandemic and risks for sports integrity. Purbrick, who is also Chairman of the Council on Anti-Illegal Betting & Related Financial Crime for the Asian Racing Federation and was formerly Director of Security & Integrity for the Hong Kong Jockey Club, talks about how regulation can help, but that not all regulation is created equal.

Corporate Spotlight

Pragmatic Play on the forefront of Asian markets growth

With so much room for development in the Asian markets, Pragmatic Play isn’t resting on its laurels. The increasing acceptance of igaming has seen a slow change in attitude towards regulation, with more and more markets on the cusp of delivering legislative roadmaps, which will truly propel the market to a period of hypergrowth – something Pragmatic Play intends to be at the forefront of.

Industry Updates

Galaxy joins push to get team vaccinated
Evolution and Scientific Games strike land-based lightning roulette deal
BetConstruct brings New Wave of East & West Virtual Expo
Pragmatic Play ups ante with $3m Live Casino prize pool

Supplier Special Report

WIN adds value through innovation

WIN SYSTEMS is a leading technology supplier of management solutions, electronic roulettes, and slot machines to the casino and lottery industries, with 25 years of experience and presence in more than 60 countries around the world.

Sega Sammy: Focusing on versatility and performance

Sega Sammy says once social distancing measures are removed, there appears to be underlying pent-up demand. The company has been active with projects and product placements and is finding its stand-alone electronic table game product is highly suitable to the operating conditions.