CHANGING THE RULES OF THE GAME

Asia’s key gaming jurisdictions, namely Singapore and Macau, are undergoing a major regulatory overhaul.

In the April 2022 edition of AGBriefings Jurisdiction Updates, the magazine’s focus is on the key changes, and what they will mean for the industry. Macau legislators are poring over amendments to the gaming law which will set the course for the city’s casinos for years to come. It was the first major shakeup in regulation for two decades and is the precursor to the bidding process for the casino concessions.

In our first article, Carlos Simões, a partner with DSL Lawyers, tackles the issue of satellite casinos. Arguably the biggest losers in the amended bill, which states that the casino must be in a property owned by the license holder. These not-so-little casinos have been given a three-year period to reorganize their businesses.

Over in Singapore, a new law will create a new regulatory authority to oversee all aspects of gambling in the city state. The government argues that the changes were necessary due to rapid changes in technology, which have affected how people bet, as well as the increased blurring of lines between gambling and gaming. Wai Ming Yap, a partner at Morgan, Lewis and Bockius, enumerates the changes in detail and comments on its implications.

In turn, Australia’s gaming industry has been in turmoil over money laundering and immigration violations. Major operators Crown, and more recently, rival Star Entertainment, have become the subject of numerous regulatory probes. Jamie Nettleton and Brodie Campbell of law firm Addisons take us through the latest developments, which involve proceedings by Australia’s financial crimes regulator, AUSTRAC.

Lastly, while Japan’s slow march toward establishing an IR industry inches ahead, other sectors of its well-established gambling industry have seen some interesting changes. Joji Kokuryo, managing partner of Bay City Ventures, looks at how going online has boosted the fortunes of the country’s horse racing industry, while the iconic pachinko and pachislot parlors are struggling with regulations that make them less appealing to players.

Through these pages you’ll also find the most relevant development in Asia’s gaming jurisdictions: Macau operators now have more clarity when it comes to the regulatory framework affecting their business, though they are still in the dark when it comes to the post- Covid recovery prospects, with some analysts predicting another lost year.

In our “Last Word,” Asia Gaming Brief managing editor, Sharon Singleton, looks at how Southeast Asia’s tourism authorities are struggling in their path to recovery without access to China’s outbound visitor market.

This edition of the Supplier Special Report is rather exceptional as the industry returns to large-scale exhibitions. After a two-year break and a rocky start to the year, ICE London will be returning to the ExCel Centre in London from April 12 to April 14, and suppliers in these pages are ready to talk business.

On that note, the ASEAN Gaming Summit, the first industry-wide conference in Asia since the start of the pandemic, is just around the corner. Mark your calendars for the 25-27 July to network with the leading gaming operators, suppliers, key regulators, and advisors at the Shangri-La at the Fort in BGC Manila. See you there!

Meanwhile, happy reading and keep strong, stay safe.

On behalf of Asia Gaming Brief

Rosalind Wade & Luis Pereira

CO-FOUNDERS