30th
August Australia Source:
Sydney Morning Herald
The
New South Wales State Parliament is pushing through new laws that will
ban smoking in public places. The California style law coming into force
in 12 months time. Premises to be effected will be casinos, clubs and restaurants.
Corporations who ignore the legislation to be fined up to A$5,500.
Smoking
ban for cafes and casinos
25th
& 27th August Manila
Source: Yahoo Singapore/Manila Times
The
subject of Internet gaming in the Philippines is once again in the news.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) granted an exclusive
5 year license to Sports and Games Entertainment Corp - SageCasino.com
in 1998. With pre-paid cards now available in Manila, this has sparked
debate among those opposed to the casino and the original decision.
Philippines
Divided Over Online Gambling
25th
August Macau Source:
Yahoo Singapore
As
part of proposed changes and the freeing up of the gaming industry in Macau
the former Portugese enclave has hired consultants Arthur Andersen. The
40 year license to run casino gaming held by Dr. Stanley Ho ends in January
2002. 4.4 million people visited the island during the first 6 months of
the year up from 3.6 million in 1999.
Macau
mulls liberalisation of gaming industry
23rd
August Melbourne Source:
The Australian
The
Crown
Casino in Melbourne, the largest casino in the southern hemisphere
and owned by Kerry Packers PBL Group has turned in operating profits for
the year of A$273 million. A$170 million of the total coming in the last
six months. Turnover for the 2,500 slot, 350 table property was up 9% to
A$1 billion.
Casino
jewel in Packer crown
16th
August New Zealand Source:
Dow Jones Newswires
Sky
City Managing Director Evan Davies has given an interview to Dow Jones
commenting on the companies results and future plans. The New Zealand company
that recently purchased the Adelaide casino has announced annual profits
of NZ$60.3 million on total revenues of NZ$295.4 million. Up 32% and 14%
respectively for the year ending 30th June. The new casino in Queenstown
on the south island being expected to open in December.
NZ's
Sky City CEO: Rev Growth To Continue
13th
August Manila Source: Philippine
Star
The
granting of a license to operate an Internet casino to Sports and Games
Entertainment Corp.(SAGE) by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation
is the theme of an article in the Philippine Star. PAGCOR, was established
under Ferdinand Marcos in 1973 to operate casinos in the country. Opponents
of the license claim that licensing an online casino may be outside its
charter.
The
New York Times online edition also has an amusing article comparing playing
the latest slots in a traditional casino and playing at home online.
Place
Your Bet: A Vegas Casino, or a Virtual One?
11th
August Las Vegas Source:
Press release
Australian
based slot manufacturer Aristocrat
has announced that its US subsidiary been recommended for a gaming manufacturer’s,
distributor’s and operator’s license in Nevada. The decision will next
go to the Nevada Gaming Commission on 24th August.
The
parent company Aristocrat Leisure Limited is based in Sydney and is quoted
on the ASX under the symbol ALL.
Nevada
Gaming Control Board Recommends Aristocrat For Licensure
8th
August Malaysia/Macau Source:
Business Post/ Yahoo Singapore
Genting
who operate the casino in Genting Highlands near Kuala Lumpur and at Subic
Bay in the Philippines are being tipped to bid for a license in Macau.
The 38 year monopoly on gaming on the island for Dr Stanley Ho is thought
to be set finish at the end of 2001. The Malaysian Business Post in an
article from the 4th also lists companies in the region that may try to
secure licenses if they are made available.
Genting
potential bidder for casino in Macau
4th
August Melbourne Source:
Press release
BMM
International have announced that they have been chosen by the Crown
Casino, Melbourne as their exclusive tester of slots, gaming equipment
and systems. The Crown has some 2,500 slots (88% Aristocrat) and 350 tables
and is the southern hemispheres largest casino. BMM completed trials on
Rapid Roulette that it is now in operation with sales to other gaming juristictions
expected. Crown also has a trial running on a cashless gaming system on
selected machines at the facility.
Crown
selects BMM International as exclusive tester
3rd
August Toronto & New Zealand
Source: Press release
Toronto
based CryptoLogic
have announced another contract from a traditional casino operator for
the provision of online gaming software. Christchurch
Casino on New Zealand's South island will be developing the online
version at www.Kiwicasino.com.
The casino is co-owned by England's Aspinalls Group and local company Skyline
Enterprises.
Earlier
in the week Florida day cruise operator SeaEscape announced that it also
wished to open an Internet casino and was evaluating software.
18th
July Hong Kong Source: AP/Yahoo
The
Associated Press reported that Stanley Ho could lose his monopoly on gambling
on Macau as early as next year but also that licenses on the 10 casinos
will be maintained. Dr Ho has had the right to be the sole operator on
the former Portugese colony since 1962.
11th
July Melbourne Source: AFN
The deployment of the new table game Rapid Roulette on to the gaming floor
of the Crown Casino
in Melbourne has apparently been a resounding success. Stargames and Crown
Casino who are in partnership to develop and promote the game have signed
a letter of intent with John Huxley to distribute it in further jurisdictions.
There
are also further plans to develop other table games using the same technology.
7th
July Manila Source:
CNN Interactive
The
Philippine Amusement & Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has licensed Sports
and Gaming Entertainment (SAGE) to operate an online casino in the
country. Software downloads will be available in among others
Japanese, Cantonese, Korean and Thai. Due to launch in August it is said
to be Asia's first online casino with the company hoping to have 100,000
players by year end.
5th
July Tasmania
Australasia's
oldest casino Wrest Point near Hobart, Tasmania now may also be visited
online. Owners the Federal group have gone live with www.SouthernCrossCasinos.com.
At this portal visitors may now access the Wrest Point Casino as
well as it's sister on the island the Country Club Casino.
The company is said to have invested A$10 million in the project since
1998. Software for the casinos is from Gaming
& Entertainment Technology Systems and ACES also based in Australia.
It is one more example of a steadily growing list of tie ups and co-operation
between traditional gaming and gaming software houses.
4th
July Australia Source: SMH/Australian
Financial Review
As the Australasian Gaming Expo 2000 concludes the effects of the moratorium
on Internet gaming continues to fill many newspaper column inches. The
Sydney Morning Herald concentrating on the negative impact on potential
foreign investment.
British companies SportingBet.com
and Flutter.com had
cheque books ready and were seeking licenses from the Tasmanian Government.
To entice some of these investments to South Africa, the country is said
to be moving to get legislation quickly on the books to regulate
Internet gaming.
The recent negative press has also led to the formation of the Australian
Gaming Council. Comprised of a grouping of key operators and suppliers.
They will be putting aside their competative differences to show a broad
front against the Anti-gambling lobby.
UK
bets may be off, at vast cost
Bets
ban seen as billion-dollar blooper
3rd
July Wellington, NZ
Source: Dow Jones
New
Zealand's Sky City Ltd
announced on the 30th June that the purchase of Adelaide Casino Pty Ltd.,
owner of the Adelaide
casino for A$183 has now been completed. The company will be embarking
shortly on upgrading and refurbishing the property. At present there are
71 tables and 760 slots with around 900 staff.
Sky City owns and operates the Auckland casino located on the North Island
and has 2 further casinos at various stages of development.
NZ's
Sky City Completes Purchase Of Adelaide Casino
NZ
Sky City Looks Forward To Settling Adelaide Casino Buy
3rd
July Australia Source: Asia
Pulse
Asia
Pulse reported on the 28th June that the Burswood
Casino in Perth will be embarking upon a A$75 million expansion programme.
Present daily visitors of 13,000 are expected to grow to 14,500. The changes
that will add over 20,000 square meters of floor space across the premises
and will take 16 months to complete.
Australia's
Burswood Expands Resort
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