Asia News - Page 51

MGM Mirage and its Chinese joint-venture partner announced their first nongaming hotel project in mainland China on Wednesday.

International News Brief: James Packer is expected to sign a $1.5-billion deal to build a hotel and casino resort in the Philippines.

Cotai Waterjets Limited reports that beginning on June 10, 2008 the Cotai Strip CotaiJet high-speed ferry service will initiate evening sailings and operate with more frequent service during important peak hours.

Elated with the success of its Manila event, the Asian Poker Tour has upped the ante and announced a $1,500,000 guaranteed prize pool for its next event in Macau.

International News Brief: Australian national David Saab emerged as the top winner of the 2008 Asian Poker Tour.

Asian Gaming Ventures releases a new documentary film entitled "Holdem China", which investigates the Texas Holdem Poker phenomenon spreading across China.

International News Brief: Las Vegas Sands Corp. offered a peek at a $150-million Cirque du Soleil show that will open at the Venetian Macao.

The detentions appear to be part of a larger crackdown on Suberbahis, Sportingbet's Turkish-facing business.

Cotai Waterjets Limited announced today that it has received permission from the appropriate Macao and Hong Kong transportation departments to begin operating its Cotai Strip CotaiJets with increased frequency and at night.

PokerStars announces the opening of Macau’s first live poker room - PokerStars Macao.

International News Brief: Thaksin Shinawatra is interested in developing another casino and entertainment complex in the Cambodian province of Koh Kong, Cambodian Defence Minister Teah Banh said yesterday.

International News Brief: With Asia expected to provide the largest gaming growth in the world, the Genting Group's head of strategic investments and corporate affairs hasn't given up on setting up a casino in Macau.

International News Brief: MGM Mirage, the 50 percent stake holder in the MGM Grand Macau stated its first quarter earnings report that its Macao venue was under-performing and it needed to increase its marketing effort in the mainland.

The top professional poker players with Asian heritage are aiming for nothing less than the top prize at the upcoming Asian Poker Tour Philippines leg this coming May 27 to June 1.

A Macau government official said Friday he was faced with a Catch-22 dilemma in late 2002: either split a shared gambling concession between feuding Las Vegas Sands Corp.

A Macau government official said mainland Chinese leaders had zero input on the steps the Special Administrative Region undertook to liberalize gaming in 2002, which led to Las Vegas Sands Corp. winning a shared gambling license.

Kenilworth sees Macao's move to halt the issuance of additional gambling licenses for the next ten years as change towards internet gambling.

International News Brief: Last week's announced slowing of casino development and fixing of commission rates for junket operators was welcomed by the director of Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Stanley Ho Hung-sun.

International News Brief: The largest corruption trial in the history of gambling enclave Macao has opened, with a former minister accused of taking $100 million in bribes.

Chinese government to halt concessions; other measures could slow junket-bounty growth.