Resorts World Genting plays it chill

In the cool mountain air of a 130 million year old rainforest, Resorts World Genting is Asia’s largest and most unique integrated resort. Just 58 kilometers (36 miles) from Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur, RW Genting feels worlds away. Malaysia’s only legal casino has to be different because the majority of the national population are barred from gambling.

Former US diplomat and broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is Asia editor at large for iGaming Business, a longtime contributor to Forbes, columnist for Asia Times and author of Hong Kong On Air, a novel set in his adopted hometown during the 1997 handover about TV news, love, betrayal, high finance, and cheap lingerie. See his biography, online archive and more at www.muhammadcohen.com; follow him on Facebook, ex-Twitter @MuhammadCohen and LinkedIn.

Genting bankruptcy charts new cruise course

Same ship, different brand. (Photo provided by Resorts World Cruises)

Covid coupled with massive ill-timed bets on the Asian cruise market led to bankruptcy for Genting Hong Kong, the company that began as Star Cruises. But for Genting chairman Lim Kok Thay and family that control the global gaming and leisure group, bankruptcy seems little more than a course correction.

Former US diplomat and broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is Asia editor at large at ICE 365, a contributor to Forbes, columnist for Asia Times and author of Hong Kong On Air, a novel set in his adopted hometown during the 1997 handover about TV news, love, betrayal, high finance, and cheap lingerie. See his bio, online archive and more at www.muhammadcohen.com; follow him on Facebook, Twitter @MuhammadCohen and LinkedIn.

Mobile betting on hold as New York pols squabble

Genting Malaysia’s Resorts World New York City slot machine parlor at Aqueduct race track could seek a full casino license this year, depending on extended budget negotiations in state capital Albany.

Improvements to New York’s gaming rules that put special interests ahead of business success and public benefit await a state budget deal, originally due April 1. Budget negotiations have gone into overtime to enact mobile sports betting and offer three casino licenses in the New York City area, where currently only slot machines are allowed in three locations.

Mobile sports betting remains particularly contentious, with Governor Andrew Cuomo, legislators, the Native American Oneida Nation and local officials pushing different plans. No regulated industry can ever completely beat the political house, but New York stands out for government consistently trumping common sense.

Former US diplomat and broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is a contributor to Forbes and Inside Asian Gaming, 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.

Genting Singapore switches casino bet to Japan from Korea

Resort World Sentosa owner Genting Singapore sells its half of a South Korea integrated resort to gamble on Japan casino legalization, which has made unprecedented progress since Genting’s announcement.

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.

Genting’s Lim looks to US for growth

Malaysia’s Genting Group has built the only global casino brand under executive chairman and CEO Lim Kok Thay. But with revenue still heavily skewed toward Malaysia and Singapore Genting looks at the US for growth, expanding into Las Vegas with its sights on New York and Florida.

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 leads gaming’s Asia Top 50, but new names on list prosper elsewhere

Despite the yearlong slump in the world’s gaming capital, Macau still dominates Inside Asian Gaming’s Asian Top 50 at the front end, with eight out of the first nine and 11 of the first 13 names on the 2015 list. But all five of the list’s newcomers are making their bones beyond Macau.

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.