CR85-p02&03-International1&2:SJC-Casino Review 25/10/09 14:54 Page 2
internationalcasinoreview
SAGSE Brazil launched in anticipation
of new bingo law
Monografie SA, organiser of the SAGSE gaming and amusement shows in
Buenos Aires and Panama, is launching a new international event at the largest
convention centre in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The event is in anticipation of the approval
of the gaming law that will regulate bingo style gambling and slots in Brazil. The
law is still awaiting its final approvals but industry insiders are confident that it
will be passed, creating the biggest slot market in Latin America.
Opportunity knocks for Kinmen
as Penghu says no to casinos
The government wanted it, tourism chiefs wanted it and the casino
bling-related companies. We
industry certainly wanted it, but not enough people on the island of
are now back to square one.”
The vote was disastrous
Penghu voted for it. Casino gaming in Taiwan could now, though, for Taiwanese property
move closer to the Chinese mainland with the islands of Kinmen
company AMZ Holdings who
next up for consideration. Phil Martin reports.
had hoped to benefit from
land that it owns on Penghu.
The company said it would
severedtais 17,000 Penghu residents the local governments could struggle to raise fresh funds
TAIWAN voted against the plan to have educated the public as to pay the £1.6m due on 24
develop two hotel casinos to what the projects would October 2009 in respect of
Any gaming focus in Taiwan on the island in a referen- entail and, indeed, what they its 2011 loan stock.
will now turn to the outly- dum, beating supporters of could do for the economy. Taiwan has, though, not
ing islands of Kinmen after the casino plan by about Sean Monaghan, an inde- ruled out another roll of the
voters in Penghu rejected 4,000. With a total of more pendent business consultant dice with another group of
plans to allow Taiwan’s first than 70,000 eligible voters, and gaming analyst, com- islands, Kinmen, lodging its
casinos to be built on their only about 42 per cent mented: “You’ve really got to request for a similar vote on
island. turned out to vote. expect the government to casinos back in August. Any
Taiwan legalised casinos The result of the vote by put in a lot more hard work vote, however, would be held
in January on its outlying the people of the Penghu in planning and communi- during its county elections
islands with central govern- islands was something of a cating potential regulations.” in December.
ment hoping to boost surprise as it had political Some observers criticised Kinmen could be a fair bet
tourism and eat into some of support from the county and government saying that it only for such a development as its
Macau’s business from main- tourism leaders. It won’t be appointed international advis- islands are nearer to Xiamen
land China. International able to hold another refer- ers by July and that the major- The islands of Kinmen looking Andy Wei, of PCA Securi- in south- eastern China than
operators such as Harrah’s, endum for three years ity of islanders had been left towards Xiamen, only seven ties Investment Trust, added: Taiwan, is making it more
MGM Mirage and Melco although if Kinmen goes in the dark as to how a casino
km away on mainland China
“Investors are disappointed accessible from mainland
Crown Entertainment were ahead the government may project may shape up. Others with the result. If it were China. Other islands such as
all reported to have not allow Penghu to have blamed central government bling. Singapore’s govern- passed, there could be a lot Matsu or Green are believed
expressed an interest. another chance. for not detailing measures ment was careful to of business opportunities to be too small to host such
However, more than Some analysts believe that to deal with problem gam- approach both issues. and may result in new gam- developments.
Macau to cap
table games
capinhand expand the business. that’s a very good idea. It
CHINA Steve Wynn added that makes the industry safer.
plans to raise the casino The primary objective of
Officials in Macau are age limit to 21 were not a the government is of
looking at how they can worry at all. “A casino is course to raise money, but
slow the future no place for children,” he on the other hand they
development of the casino said. “Someone should be have a very strong interest
sector to prevent its over earning their own living in how it affects the
Harrah’s to build E1.5bn
expansion. before they think about community.”
Local government is gambling. The idea of Casino revenue in
reviewing the number of limiting somehow the Macau surged by 53 per
Metropolis near Bratislava
gambling tables in the city, number of gaming tables in cent in September
whilst drafting two laws, one the Macau gaming area, compared to last year.
to ban slot machines from
residential areas and another
sprawlingmetropolis ways that lead to Vienna, in the financing of the project. to increase the minimum age
SLOVAKIA Bratislava, Budapest and Harrah’s managing direc- for customers and staff at
Prague. There are four inter- tor of development, Andrew casinos from 18 to 21. The
Harrah’s Entertainment has national airports within Tottenham, said the project moves have been backed
said it will build a E1.5bn gam- 220km with 40m passengers could be followed by others by Macau’s six licensed
bling and hotel resort in Slo- yearly, not to mention the in Europe, but not on the operators. The suggestion is
vakia jointly with Hungary’s tourists passing by on the same scale. for table games for each
TriGranit. Harrah’s, the high- and railways. It was hoped the finished operator be capped at
operator of 54 resorts, is “This project will be the Metropolis would attract 5m somewhere between 1,000
still negotiating financial new destination of the new tourists a year from across and 1,500 tables. Las Vegas
details with real-estate region, dramatically increas- central Europe. It is expected Sands already operates two
investment and develop- ing Slovakia’s tourism spend to create 28,000 long-term properties in Macau with
ment company TriGranit. and number of visitors,” Tri- and temporary jobs. more than 1,000 table
The project, to be known Granit said. Construction work will games.
as Metropolis, will include a Phased construction start at the end of 2010 and Ambrose So Shu Fai,
casino, five-star hotel, retail, would start next year. Harrah’s be completed in five years, chief executive officer of
leisure, Aqua Park, golf, cul- will operate the casino and although the casino is SJM Holding, said: “The
tural and congress facilities. It hotel, with TriGranit operat- expected to be finished in gaming market cannot be
will be located on a 30- ing the shopping mall and the first phase during 2012. expanded forever without
hectare site south of entertainment park. The venue is expected to any restriction. We’ll
Bratislava, located at the inter- TriGranit said a minimum generate E600m in taxes for explore ways and means
section of the D2 and D4 high- of six banks would be involved Slovakia annually. as to how we should The gaming floor at Altira Macau formerly Crown
November 2009 • internationalnews 3
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