Manchester United, Macau junket join Cambodia casino

Australia listed Donaco International spent $360 million to buy a Cambodia border casino in Poipet. Macau junket promoter Heng Sheng Group and Manchester United have joined the Star Vegas team to help make the investment pay. Poipet’s location, two hours from the ancient Buddhist Angkor Wat complex, is a key selling point for Chinese tourists.

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.

Brisbane picks a winner for riverfront casino

Australia’s number two gaming operator Echo Entertainment gets a vital win in Brisbane in its Queensland base over rival Crown Resorts.

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.

China currency, equity turmoil adds to Macau’s woes

Tough times for the world’s gaming capital show little sign of abating. Macau’s casino revenue fell 35.5% in August, its fifteenth straight month of year on year decreases. That follows a 34.5% gaming revenue decline in July. China’s slowing economy and President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption drive have driven Macau’s slump, but mainland stock market chaos and currency devaluation make recovery more difficult.

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.

Bahamas casino flounders with China’s help

China hopes to combine huge currency reserves and burgeoning overseas travel to extend its global soft power. The Bahamas’ $3.5 billion Baha Mar casino project shows the dangers of having Beijing for a partner for commercial projects.

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.

Analysts differ on whether Macau hit bottom in June

Some think Macau’s June gaming revenue, its lowest since November 2010, signals a bottom, but others see more bad news ahead for the world’s casino capital.

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.

Investors flock to South Korea casino bidding

With burgeoning Chinese tourism and a hot pop culture scene, South Korea reportedly drew 34 applications for two casino licenses with applicants from the US, Macau and across Asia. But with 16 casinos already catering to foreigners and Korean nationals banned, some wonder whether new integrated resorts can succeed.

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 Asia gaming machine boom

Macau authorities limit the growth of casino tables, so electronic gaming machine use is expanding rapidly, according to Union Gaming Research Macau, and may even be more profitable than the equivalent number of traditional tables.

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.

Casinos look outside the box to attract millennials

As their customers age in the US and beyond, casinos need new thinking to attract millennials. They can take the success of an uber-hip San Francisco miniature golf course as an example of how Generation Y likes to roll.

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.

Bank sees ‘green shoots’ of Macau recovery

Although Macau’s gaming revenue almost certainly fell for a 13th consecutive month in June, Credit Suisse sees “green shoots” of recovery in recent trends.

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.

Cities, developers often squander casinos’ urban clout

Global Market Advisors partner Andrew Klebanow says better design and regulation can help casinos stimulate urban development in a recent white paper. Macau has prime examples of urban casinos done right and less right.

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.