Asia

Caesars Entertainment in line to get Japanese IR license

Published

6 years ago

July 27, 2018

Caesars Entertainment in line to get Japanese IR license

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Japanese lawmakers have made the first step in allowing casinos in the country. They passed the Basic Bill on Gambling Addiction Counter Measures and the Integrated Resort Implementation Bill (IRIB). This could pave the way to the opening of casino resorts in three locations, most likely Osaka, Hokkaido, Wakayama and Nagasaki.

The primary beneficiary of the developments is likely to be Caesars Entertainment, who have already had participated in negotiations with lawmakers and community leaders in the country. In fact, the US company has been chasing this for over fifteen years.

Jan Jones, EVP for public policy and corporate responsibility at Caesars Entertainment, has welcomed the gathering pace of the new legislative framework being established in Japan. “Assuming the legislation passes the upper house, we think the first licenses might be awarded late in 2020, with first resorts opening in 2025,” Jones explained in an interview at the end of June 2018.

It is certainly been a long road leading up to the first key legislature changes that came in December 2016, which officially made gambling legal in Japan, although when it comes to bricks and mortar casinos, the country’s parliament was still a long way from implementing the legal framework to regulate the industry. Meanwhile, the doors opened for citizens to legally explore their gambling options via the internet for the first time, as operators such as William Hill online casino in Japan offered localised language support to meet the demands of a growing client base.

However, with much still in the air and with many grey areas still to account for with land-based casinos, the importance of establishing the appropriate legal infrastructure has been of paramount importance to the Japanese Parliament. This finally came when the Basic Bill on Gambling Addiction Counter Measures was introduced in June 2018, which lays the foundations on which the remaining legislature can be built upon and which also passed comfortably in parliament, with 183 voting in favour and just 46 against.

The IR Bill is therefore fully expected to pass through parliament with very little opposition, before the final session on July 22 at the National Diet Building in Tokyo. Given the huge success of integrated resorts and casino complexes in other popular Asian destinations, such as Macau, Singapore and the Philippines, there has been a growing appreciation that such resort destinations could bring not only significant overseas investment to the country, but also provide a massive boost to the tourist industry.

Gambling was actually made illegal in 1907 by Japan’s criminal code. However, there have been exclusions in place for state lotteries and scratch cards, along with soccer totes, horse racing, powerboat racing and motorsports. Pachinko parlours were also considered a “game” rather than “gambling” as such, given that the mechanical slots-like game does not pay out cash prizes. Instead, tokens are awarded that can be redeemed for goods or items at stores, which are nominally separate to the parlours. Nevertheless, this new legislature will also potentially change the face of pachinko in Japan and how the parlours can operate in the future.

Source: micetimes.asia

Asia

Mascots Xiyangyang and Lerongrong ready for China’s 15th National Games

Published

2 days ago

November 15, 2024

Adrienn Sarkany

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Joint events were held in Guangdong, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR on November 9 to mark the one-year countdown to China’s 15th National Games (NG), the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities (NGD), and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (NSOG).

Scheduled to take place from November 9 to 21, 2025, the 15th NG will be hosted across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, with the 12th NGD and the 9th NSOG following from December 8 to 15, 2025.

The three regions are united in their commitment to delivering a “green, inclusive, open, and clean” event, while ensuring it is “simple, safe, and spectacular”. Collaborative efforts are well underway, with preparations progressing actively and prudently.

On the same day, the official theme slogans, emblems, and mascots of the events were unveiled. The slogan for the 15th NG is “Passionate National Games, Vibrant Greater Bay Area”, and that for the following games encourages those participants to pursue dreams in the Greater Bay Area and embark on a brighter journey.

According to the organizing committee of the 15th NG, both slogans are deeply aligned with the strategic positioning of the Greater Bay Area. They embody the Olympic values, Chinese cultural values, and China’s sporting spirit. Beyond that, the slogans reflect the pulse of the times, emphasize local identity, and highlight the features of sports, while striking an emotional chord and fostering a sense of unity.

The mascots for these sporting events are inspired by the Chinese white dolphin, a national first-class protected wild animal. These two adorable creatures, named Xiyangyang and Lerongrong, symbolize joy, harmony, and unity.

Designed around the theme of “prosperity and inclusiveness”, the emblem draws inspiration from the moment of fireworks bursting. The visually striking creation features three intertwining petals that rotate to form a harmonious pattern. Drawing on the distinct shapes and hues of flowers, the designers have carefully arranged the petals in a spiral that converges at the center. This symbolizes the harmonious integration and boundless vitality of the Greater Bay Area. It also represents the region’s deep connection with the motherland and its expanding global influence.

Asia

India’s top gamers Jonathan & TechnoGamerz to face off in eFootball showdown at DreamHack India 2024

Published

3 days ago

November 14, 2024

Adrienn Sarkany

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Two of Indian esports and gaming’s biggest personalities, Jonathan Amaral (Jonathan) and Ujjwal Chaurasia (TechnoGamerz) are all set to lock horns in an electrifying clash of eFootball at DreamHack India 2024 which will be taking place at the Hitex Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad from November 15 to 17.

Having consistently made his mark in national as well as international tournaments, Jonathan is celebrated not only as one of India’s top esports athletes but also as a prominent content creator, with 6.5 million subscribers on YouTube. TechnoGamerz, on the other hand, stands as one of the biggest gaming creators globally, with an impressive 43.2 million YouTube subscribers.

This match-up, bringing together two icons of the Indian gaming ecosystem on the virtual pitch will be one for the ages. Fans of both stars can expect an intense display of skill, strategy, and passion for the game as both gamers compete for glory.

In addition to the exhibition match, Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. (KONAMI), the leading video game developer and publisher from Japan will also be hosting other exciting activities at the eFootball zone at DreamHack India 2024. These will include:

1v1 Matches: Attendees will be able to test their skills against friends and other players in thrilling 1v1 eFootball matches.
Game Demonstrations: An in-depth look at eFootball through live demonstrations led by Konami’s gaming gurus. The one-stop spot to gather valuable insights and pro tips to elevate your gameplay in eFootball.
Trivia Challenges: Put your knowledge to the test with trivia challenges that will run throughout the event, offering participants a chance to win exciting rewards.
Crowd Engagement Activities: Real-life football activities like juggling and dribbling challenges to bring the stadium experience to the Hitex Exhibition Centre floor.
Influencer Visits and Exhibition Matches: A line-up of top influencers will stop by for exhibition matches, fan meet-and-greets, and exclusive gaming sessions, keeping the energy high throughout the event.
Exclusive Merchandise Giveaways: From trivia and 1v1 matches to game demonstrations, every activity gives participants a chance to win limited-edition eFootball merchandise.

Whether you’re looking to cheer on your favorite star, learn new techniques, or grab some amazing merch, the eFootball zone at DreamHack India is the place to be.

This year’s DreamHack India is all about passion, competition, and community, and Konami is proud to bring fans closer to the world of eFootball than ever before.

Asia

PBBM Orders Immediate Ban Against All PH POGO Operations

Published

3 days ago

November 14, 2024

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Citing risks posed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) operations in the country, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. 74 imposing an immediate ban on offshore and internet gaming in the country.

In issuing the EO 74, President Marcos said “the State has the paramount duty to safeguard national security, maintain public order, uphold the rule of law, protect the safety of its citizens, and ensure the integrity of the social fabric of the nation.”

“…In pursuit of such duty, an unequivocal ban of POGO/IGL operations was pronounced during the State of the Nation Address on 22 July 2024.”

The EO cited the Department of Finance (DOF) study in saying that POGO activities significantly outweigh the economic and social benefits derived from the POGO industry because of the risks and negative consequences such as increased crime rates, social instability and exploitation of vulnerable people associated with them.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Report also indicated POGOs have been identified as susceptible to money laundering, fraud and other illicit financial activities, and therefore pose substantial threats to the integrity of the national financial system.

“The high reputational risks associated with POGO/IGL operations deter foreign investment and tourism, undermining the efforts of the National Government in promoting the country as a safe and sustainable investment and tourism destination,” the EO stated.

The President’s order, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Nov. 5, will cover Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators and Offshore Gaming Operations and Services.

All POGOs/IGLs and other offshore gaming operations and other offshore gaming-related/auxiliary/ancillary services with issued licenses, permits are expected to completely cease operations, including the winding up of their affairs, on December 31, 2024 or earlier.

And to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy, Technical Working Groups (TWGs) will be created. The TWG on Employment Recovery and Reintegration will address the impact of the foregoing ban on the affected sectors of the economy and ensure the reintegration of displaced Filipino workers.

This will also involve the provision of assistance and safety nets which include upskilling and reskilling programmes to ensure displaced workers could find new jobs.

The President also issued directives to national government agencies in response to the immediate POGO operations prohibition.

He wants the Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission (PAOCC), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and other law enforcement agencies to intensify their efforts against illegal POGOs/GLs and other offshore gaming operations and services.

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) was instructed to assist the TWG on Anti-Illegal Offshore Gaming Operations in securing the cooperation of homeowners associations to ensure the non-proliferation of POGO/IGL and other offshore gaming operations and services in subdivisions, condominiums and other real estate developments.