Archive for June, 2016

Casino head fake rouses Vietnam

June 28, 2016

Even with a long awaited casino law bill submitted to Vietnam’s parliament, a Ho Chi Minh City project that looks like a casino, talks like a casino and quacks like a casino will never be a casino.

Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a blogger for Forbes, editor at large for Inside Asian Gaming 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.

Sputtering Macau junkets go on offense

June 24, 2016

With high rollers still shunning the global gaming capital, Macau junket promoters have united under the banner of Macau Gaming Information Association, in an effort to create a long-sought deadbeat debtor list and enter new markets.

Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a blogger for Forbes, editor at large for Inside Asian Gaming 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.

China pet project could dog Macau

June 21, 2016

Development of Guangdong Province’s neighboring Hengqin island is supposed to make Macau a bigger tourist draw. But this pet project of President Xi Jinping could compete with Macau without policy changes to let visitors flow freely over the border.

Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a blogger for Forbes, editor at large for Inside Asian Gaming 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.

MGM takeover stamps US casino reversal

June 15, 2016

New Jersey once ordered MGM to sell its half of Atlantic City’s Borgata over an “unsuitable Macau partner.” Now MGM taking full control of the best in market casino resort shows that US regulators have accepted Macau standards of probity, rather than lifting other jurisdictions to higher standards.

Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a blogger for Forbes, editor at large for Inside Asian Gaming 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.

China fever overwhelms India’s gaming chops

June 13, 2016

While casino operators scramble for China’s players, India represents Asia’s biggest untapped market with US$10 billion potential, Global Market Advisors says in a new study.

Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a blogger for Forbes, editor at large for Inside Asian Gaming 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.

James Packer’s Crown hedges Macau bet

June 9, 2016

With billions on the table in Sydney and Las Vegas, Australia casino leader Crown Resorts sells down its interest in Melco Crown, the NASDAQ listed vehicle running casinos in Macau and Manila.

Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a blogger for Forbes, editor at large for Inside Asian Gaming 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 casino revenue slump hits 24 months

June 5, 2016

Amid Chinese President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign and slowing economic growth on the mainland, Macau’s casino revenue fell for the 24th straight month in May.

Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a blogger for Forbes, editor at large for Inside Asian Gaming 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 report sheds no light for dark times

June 2, 2016

The government sponsored, university conducted interim review of Macau’s casino liberalization says gaming expansion has been positive for Macau. But the report offers no help or hope regarding the current downturn, and few clues about what will happen when licenses expire, starting in 2020.

Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a blogger for Forbes, editor at large for Inside Asian Gaming 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.