Mohegan Gaming takes the long view

From its Connecticut base, Mohegan Gaming has expanded to Las Vegas and Korea. (Photo credit: Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment)

In its first quarter century, Native American casino operator Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment has expanded from its Connecticut base to Las Vegas and Asia. In an exclusive interview, MGE president and CEO Ray Pineault, the second Tribe member to lead its gaming arm, talks about those milestones and the Mohegan vision that looks 13 generations ahead.

Former US diplomat and broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a columnist for ICE 365, a contributor to Forbes,columnist/correspondent for Asia Times, 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.

Asia needs Caesars’ Las Vegas flair

In the midst of a record US$17.8 billion takeover by Eldorado Resorts, Caesars Entertainment may pull out of its Korea resort, under construction in a market where the Las Vegas mainstay’s flair is needed most.

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.

Sole Korea casino for Koreans struggles to balance profits, policy imperatives

South Korea’s only casino that admits players without foreign passports, Kangwon Land faced penalties for having too much gaming revenue. But last year, it reduced revenue too sharply and profits plummeted. Now it’s trying to find the right balance.

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.

Three casino resorts coming to Korean gateway

With its first initial about to be completed, Paradise City is the first of three world class casino resorts being developed in Incheon on the doorstep of South Korea’s gateway international airport. That’s convenient since only foreigners can gamble at these integrated resorts.

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.

Investors misunderstand Macau transition

Every year, I make forecasts about Asian gaming for the year ahead. For 2019, I’m offering predictions about Macau, Japan, online gaming, Korea and Vietnam. And as the year wraps up, I check the accuracy of those forecasts.

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.

Jeju Dream Tower gambles on ‘Korean lifestyle’

Korea’s Lotte Tour is building a US$1.4 billion iconic urban integrated resort highlighting “modern Korean lifestyle” on Jeju island, just 10 minutes from the airport, offering visa-free entry for mainland Chinese. The trick is to get Jeju’s vast majority of Korean visitors, barred from the casino, to become customers of the 38 story twin towers featuring Asia’s largest Grand Hyatt and Korea’s largest pool deck.

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.

Looking back, ahead at Asian gaming

Here’s the customary review of my 2017 predictions, and, more important, a look ahead at 2018 in Asian gaming.

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.

Donaco, Joey Lim ready for big time

Under the direction of Joey Lim, first grandson of legendary Genting Group founder Lim Goh Tong, Australia listed Donaco International says it wants to play in Japan’s casino game, building on success with Chinese customers in Vietnam and Thai customers in Cambodia.

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.

Korea casino resort opens amid Chinese boycott

North Korea’s aggressive missile testing and nuclear ambitions casts a shadow over the opening of US$1.1 billion Paradise City outside Seoul. South Korea’s deployment of the US THAAD missile defense system in response has led to a boycott by Chinese tour groups, the resort’s target market.

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.

Pachinko mogul seeks Japan casino in Korea

Sega Sammy Chairman Hajime Satomi is backing South Korea’s first integrated resort, opening this month, in hope of getting a casino license in Japan, which until recently seemed like an impossible dream.

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.