Tag: Asia

The Thai government has launched three new sub-committees that will try to tackle the country’s illegal gambling dens, which have been signalled as a major source of Covid-19 infections.

One sub-committee, headed by police inspector-general Gen Sarawut Kanphanit, will pinpoint areas where illegal gambling dens operate and examine the links between their heads and local police forces and administrative organisations.

Interior Ministry inspector, Phusit Somchit, will lead another sub-committee with the goal of proposing long-term measures to combat illegal gambling.

The third sub-committee will investigate the money trail illegal gambling dens leave. It will be headed by Pol Col Akkharaphon Bunyopatsatam, deputy director-general of the Department of Special Investigation.

Resorts World Genting (RWG) has announced a temporary closure of its venue from January 22 to February 4. The decision was made to comply with the Movement Control Order (MCO) initiated by the Malaysian government to control the spread of Covid-19.

The casino resort, operated by Genting Malaysia Bhd, said that essential resort-based services at Resorts World Genting, including security, firefighting, utilities and clinics, would remain operational.

The resort said: “We regret any inconvenience caused by the temporary closure of our resort.”

Customers with a booking for the affected period can ask for a change of date or refund, it said.

Nazara Technologies Ltd, the Indian gaming company backed by billionaire Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, has filed for an IPO.

The company filed IPO documents with India’s market regulator on Friday. Its impending debut on the local exchanges could encourage other Indian startups to tap public markets, after years of explosive growth in mobile and internet usage created giant private firms from Paytm to Walmart Inc.’s Flipkart.

Founded by gamer Nitish Mittersain in 2000, when he was a college undergrad, Nazara is among the firms that have benefited from a global boom in smartphone gaming that began even before the pandemic drove millions online. Mittersain started the company with 30 million rupees borrowed from friends and family, only to get derailed during the dotcom bust. The firm spent its first decade clearing debt, but steadily built market share by acquiring fellow gaming startups.

It is now seeking to be among the first major Indian startups to go public at a time of burgeoning investor interest in the country’s technology sphere. Facebook Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google are pouring billions into partnerships with local operator Jio Platforms Inc., while Amazon.com Inc. founder Jeff Bezos has said that “the 21st century is going to be the Indian century.”

Sands China has completed a series of activities in support of the Macau government’s Responsible Gambling Promotions 2020, including the promotion of responsible gambling behaviour among staff and further raising their awareness of problem gambling.

The campaign, which ran from August through December, was organised by the MSAR Social Welfare Bureau, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) and the University of Macau’s Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming.

Sands China’s initiatives included holding two responsible gaming workshops for its staff, the first promoting better communication between staff members and their children with a focus on self-control and financial management skills, while the second aimed to provide a better understanding of gambling disorders and how staff can seek help for themselves or others.

There were also a series of roadshows held at Sands China properties to further increase awareness of responsible gaming for staff.

“Sands China understands the importance of responsible gaming to the well-being of the Macau community, and it is our pleasure to support the Macau government’s Responsible Gambling Promotions 2020. Through various in-house initiatives and those with local organisations, we are pleased to again see our team members supporting the company’s corporate social responsibility efforts and the Macau government’s annual responsible gaming awareness promotion,” Wilfred Wong, President of Sands China, said.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced an official partnership with Sportradar for worldwide data and associated media rights for major AFC competitions for the cycles 2021-2024 and 2025-2028.

Under the new agreement, Sportradar becomes the Official Video and Data Distribution Partner for major AFC national team and club competitions. The contract spanning eight years, allows Sportradar to use and distribute audio-visual content and AFC match-related data.

“We welcome Sportradar as our official video and data distribution partner. The agreement will bring AFC football closer to an ever-growing international fanbase and consumers,” Dato’ Windsor John, General-Secretary of AFC, said.

“We are proud to partner with the AFC in this watershed moment for Asian football. With the importance of Asia, we believe that this agreement is a strategic opportunity that will provide Sportradar further leverage in the region with a sport that is growing exponentially in terms of participation and viewership. This puts us in an unrivalled position that will showcase a wider range of services we have to offer to engage more sports rights holders in the region,” Carsten Koerl, CEO of Sportradar, said.

“Innovation has always been key for the new era of Asian football. Enabling AFC data and related media to be distributed in real time and with minimum delay is key in enhancing the fans’ experience, which in turn positively impacts the value of AFC football,” Patrick Murphy, Board Member and CEO at Football Marketing Asia (FMA), the exclusive commercial partner of the AFC for the rights cycles 2021-2024 and 2025-2028, said.

Sands China Ltd has paid its respects to its founder, Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson with a minute’s silence observed by staff and condolence messages posted on electronic signage outside its Macau resorts.

The 87-year-old Adelson passed away on Monday (Las Vegas time) from complications related to treatment for non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, just days after announcing a leave of absence from his roles with Las Vegas Sands and Sands China to resume cancer treatment.

Sands China issued a notice to its staff early Wednesday (Macau time) in which it stated, “To express our deep sorrow for the passing of our company’s founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Sheldon G Adelson, the company has decided to hold a mourning event today. Please put down your work, stand up and join us in observing one minute of silence at 12:00 noon. During this period of time the company will suspend all public recreational activities.”

Signs outside the company’s integrated resorts, including The Venetian Macao and The Parisian Macao, expressed mourning for Adelson’s loss, adding, “We will remember you always.”

There was also recognition of Adelson’s contribution to the development of Macau by the SAR Government, which issued the following statement on Wednesday:

“The Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) has been informed by Sands China Ltd of the passing of Mr Sheldon Gary Adelson, founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the company, who died of illness today.

“The leadership of the late Mr Adelson has promoted the development of Sands China in Macao. The Macao SAR Government expresses its deepest sorrow on the passing of Mr Adelson, and extends its most sincere condolences to his family.”

The Wakayama prefecture has announced its implementation policy for an integrated resort bid.

The policy sets out objectives for a wellness and sports-focused IR that aims to revitalise the local economy, attracting visitors from within Japan and abroad, creating “significant economic and employment effects.”

It calls on potential private operators to prioritise the waterfront location, hot springs, food culture and other local resources to maximise the strengths of their proposals.

Wakayama’s candidate area is a 23.61-hectare space in Marina City, Kemi, with an initial operation period of 40 years.

Proposals from potential private partners must be creative designs that fit in with local heritage, the prefecture’s policy states.

The building must offer a symbolic landmark and be technologically advanced, including MICE facilities covering 50,000 square meters, customer PR and concierge services, at least 100,000 square meters of accommodation with 2500 guestrooms, and a casino comprising no more than 3% of the entire area.

Sports must also form a key part in the proposal. Sailing, surfing, fishing, diving, golf, rafting, and a spa are all mentioned in the policy.

The policy also mentions that potential partners must consider a policy for mitigating problem gambling.

Nagasaki prefecture has launched its Request for Proposal (RFP) last Thursday, including the publication of recruitment guidelines for a Kyushu/Nagasaki IR operator.

Under the RFP process, the prefecture will accept applications from operators for initial screening until January 28, and questions from participants regarding the requirements will be accepted until January 15.

The operator selection schedule has set March 1 as the deadline for accepting preliminary screening documents and the results of the preliminary screening will be announced later in the month. The final results are scheduled for August 2021.

There are currently four known contenders for a Nagasaki IR: Oshidori International Holdings, Casinos Austria, Pixel Companyz in collaboration with Groupe Partouche and a consortium comprising Get Nice Holdings and Current Corp.