Falcone resignation ‘positive’ for Vietnam casino

Vietnam casino resort developer Asian Coast Development Ltd (ACDL) says that Philip Falcone’s resignation from Wall Street’s Harbinger Group is a “positive development” for its Ho Tram Strip resort cluster, two hours south of Ho Chi Minh City, the former Saigon. Falcone’s independent Harbinger Capital Partners is the majority investor in ACDL. With a new Greg Norman golf course and new executive leadership, Ho Tram Strip envisions beachfront condominiums to double the size of its first casino resort. The revamped casino team has booked record revenue in October and November, while hoping that Vietnamese will be allowed to try their luck at the tables in the year ahead.

Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a blogger for Forbes and author of Hong Kong On Air, a novel set in his adopted hometown during the 1997 handover about television news, love, betrayal, high finance, and cheap lingerie. See his bio, online archive and more at www.muhammadcohen.com; follow him on Facebook and Twitter @MuhammadCohen.

Chinese tastes leaving Macau behind: expert

China Market Research Group founder Shaun Rein literally wrote the book on Chinese consumer tastes and trends. Rein’s latest book, The End of Copycat China highlights how Chinese companies are moving up the innovation curve, partly in response mainland consumer’s evolving preferences. Rein highlights how both trends contribute to Macau’s current slump and what the global gambling capital needs to do to respond.

Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a blogger for Forbes and author of Hong Kong On Air, a novel set in his adopted hometown during the 1997 handover about television news, love, betrayal, high finance, and cheap lingerie. See his bio, online archive and more at www.muhammadcohen.com; follow him on Facebook and Twitter @MuhammadCohen.

Atlantic City: Macau’s past or Macau’s future?

Atlantic City came out of nowhere to top Las Vegas as the global leader in gaming revenue in the 1980s and ‘90s. Now, the New Jersey shore Queen of Resorts is shriveling, with four of its 12 casinos shuttered and a fifth due to close next month. Current global gaming leader Macau shares some troubling traits with Atlantic City and needs changes to avoid a similar fate.

Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a blogger for Forbes and author of Hong Kong On Air, a novel set in his adopted hometown during the 1997 handover about television news, love, betrayal, high finance, and cheap lingerie. See his bio, online archive and more at www.muhammadcohen.com; follow him on Facebook and Twitter @MuhammadCohen.

Happy FU Day to Caesars, Manila

On this year’s Felix Unger Day, salute the odd couple of Caesars Entertainment and the Philippines. Caesars wants to build a casino resort in Manila, but Philippine gaming regulators are about as enthusiastic as Oscar was about taking in Felix.

Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a blogger for Forbes and author of Hong Kong On Air, a novel set in his adopted hometown during the 1997 handover about television news, love, betrayal, high finance, and cheap lingerie. See his bio, online archive and more at www.muhammadcohen.com; follow him on Facebook and Twitter @MuhammadCohen.

Macau casinos take record fall in October

With mainland China’s enduring anti-corruption drive spooking high rollers and mass market players facing a smoking ban in the same old casinos, Macau gaming revenue fell 23.2% in October from a year earlier, the largest drop on record. Third quarter casino company earnings held up, but gaming revenue appears heading its first down year since the industry was opened to competition in 2002.

Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a blogger for Forbes and author of Hong Kong On Air, a novel set in his adopted hometown during the 1997 handover about television news, love, betrayal, high finance, and cheap lingerie. See his bio, online archive and more at www.muhammadcohen.com; follow him on Facebook and Twitter @MuhammadCohen.