IN THE NEWS

Macau’s Golden Week sees numbers of visitors drop

With the Coronavirus reaching Macau the number of visitors in their traditional Lunar New Year have declined by 49% already and restrictions are set to tighten. Golden Week is the start of the year that Macau Casinos rely on but travel restrictions aimed at limiting the spread of the Coronavirus in China has seen a decline in visitation.

While there have not yet been any instances of Macau casinos closing their doors, despite speculation that such extreme measures remain very much on the cards, a number of facilities have temporarily shut their doors including Club Cubic at City of Dreams and Poker King Club (PKC) at The Venetian Macao. PKC said it is “now closed for disinfection and will reopen upon further notice.”

Announced in a recent press briefing, Chief Executive of Macau Mr. Ho Iat Seng said that Macau would indefinitely cancel all large-scale public events that it had planned to celebrate the Year of the Rat in order to strengthen its disease prevention measures.

Furthermore, the Chief Executive said he would not rule out the possibility of indefinitely suspending casino operations as well should the situation worsen

Sources:

https://cdcgaming.asia/?p=1642&lang=en

https://www.asgam.com/index.php/2020/01/27/macau-visitor-numbers-drop-49-9-over-first-two-days-of-golden-week-as-virus-fears-grow/

Crown inquiry over licence suitability

The gaming regulator in New South Wales says the first hearing of an investigation on whether casino firm Crown Resorts Ltd breached its gaming license for its Barangaroo project in that Australian state is to take place on January 21. Authorities are said to be looking particularly at the decision of Crown Resorts’ largest shareholder to sell a 19.9 percent stake to Melco Resorts and Entertainment

The New South Wales Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) says that it would probe whether the transfer of shares in Crown Resorts to Melco Resorts constituted a “breach” of the restricted gaming licence or any other regulatory agreement. The regulator said additionally that the probe ought to review whether Crown Resorts should be allowed to retain the licence to operate a casino in Sydney.

In response to the enquiry, Crown Resorts Executive Chairman John Alexander has stepped down from the role amid a major reshuffle of the company’s senior executive team.  Alexander announced on Friday that he would no longer lead the company.

Sources:

https://www.asgam.com/index.php/2020/01/27/john-alexander-steps-down-as-executive-chairman-of-crown-resorts-as-senior-leadership-team-overhauled/

https://www.ggrasia.com/crown-inquiry-over-licence-suitability-to-start-jan-21/

Tabcorp tenders to operate UK National Lottery

Tabcorp Holdings will renew an ambition to establish its presence within UK gambling, as it prepares to bid for the 2023 National Lottery operating contract. The Daily Telegraph reports that Tabcorp governance has held discussions with investment bank Rothschild, one of four strategic advisors forming the UKGC’s tender evaluation body.

Source: https://sbcnews.co.uk/europe/2020/01/27/tabcorp-plans-to-join-the-national-lotterys-hot-pursuit/