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The attorney-general’s ultimate decision is that there is insufficient evidence to conclude that CTFE or its relevant associates are unsuitable

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The Queensland government has determined that Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE) is suitable to be associated with Star Entertainment Group’s Queen’s Wharf Brisbane property. The investigation into the matter came in the wake of Star Entertainment’s violations and apparent ties with Asian junket operators.

For context, Star Entertainment was previously found guilty of multiple AML violations and ties with influential Chinese agents. This included the Suncity Group and its now-imprisoned CEO Alvin Chau.

The past ties raised concerns about CTFE, considering that the Hong Kong-based conglomerate owns a 4.99% stake in Star Entertainment and a significant 25% stake in the company’s Queen’s Wharf Brisbane property.

In addition to its stake in Star Entertainment, CTFE also owns properties in the Bahamas and Vietnam. Its chairman, Henry Cheng, also holds a 10% stake in STDM.

In any case, the Queensland government was unable to find anything that would make CTFE unsuitable to be associated with Star Entertainment’s Queensland property.

CTFE Is Suitable, the Attorney-General Determined

Queensland’s attorney-general Yvette D’Ath said that the probe into CTFE’s business has been conducted over the 16 months leading to February 2024. According to her, the investigation was conducted by OLGR with the assistance of a third-party firm.

After what D’Ath called “considerable investigative work” into CTFE’s business and leadership, the investigation concluded that the Hong Kong-based company should be a suitable partner to Star’s property in Brisbane.

The attorney-general’s ultimate decision is that there is insufficient evidence to conclude that CTFE or its relevant associates are unsuitable.

Public statement on the suitability investigation

Queensland’s government added that the investigation was unable to confirm the allegations against CTFE. While the firm had previously dealt with a “person of poor repute,” the investigation could not find evidence to suggest that CTFE knew that the relevant person was a person of poor repute during the period of the association.

The attorney-general also learned that CTFE “lacked candor and fulsomeness” in several dealings with the OLGR. However, the attorney-general determined that this was “based on differences in cultural and organizational expectations” and not a deliberate concealment.

The attorney-general praised CTFE for its collaboration and desire to work with the regulator in the future. However, the attorney-general also warned that potential future failings may cause the Queensland government to reevaluate CTFE’s suitability to be associated with Star Entertainment’s Queens’ Wharf property.

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The collaboration designates Melco as the operator of the casino at John Keells\’ integrated resort, which will be renamed to City of Dreams Sri Lanka

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The leading developer, owner and operator of integrated resorts in Europe and across Asia, Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited, announced it engaged in a strategic partnership with the largest conglomerate on the Colombo Stock Exchange and company with a rich history, John Keells Holdings PLC. Per the latest agreement, announced earlier this week, Melco was designated as the casino operator for John Keells’ integrated resort Cinnamon Life Integrated Resort.

Melco confirmed that under the terms of the collaboration, the Cinnamon Life Integrated Resort will be rebranded to City of Dreams Sri Lanka. In exchange for the rights to operate the casino, the company agreed to pay John Keells approximately $125 million. The announcement also comes after Melco recently secured a 20-year casino license from the Government of Sri Lanka. Ultimately, through the new deal, Melco secured access to the regulated gambling sector in the country, paving the way for its future growth.

Lawrence Ho, Melco’s chairman and CEO, revealed that the deal with John Keells marks a milestone achievement for the company’s development in the country. “We believe Sri Lanka has immense potential and this opportunity complements our existing portfolio of properties,” he added.

“We are thrilled to be part of this landmark development in Sri Lanka and to be in partnership with John Keells. We believe Sri Lanka has immense potential and this opportunity complements our existing portfolio of properties.“

Lawrence Ho, chairman and CEO at MelcoThe Company Expects the Project to Boost Tourism in the Area

Additionally, Ho spoke about the exceptional potential of City of Dreams Sri Lanka, predicting that it will help propel tourism and lead to economic growth. He said that the company is expected to leverage its extensive experience in operating integrated resorts across the globe. Finally, Ho said: “We will continue to work closely with our esteemed partners and the Sri Lankan Government to ensure the success of this venture, and we expect to make a significant and positive impact on the local community and economy.”

The collaboration will see Melco operate not only the gaming area at City of Dreams Sri Lanka but also manage the top 5 floors of the venue’s hotel. The company will use its luxury Nuwa brand for 113 of the 800 hotel rooms at the integrated resort. Melco’s Nuwa brand is recognized for its luxury rooms, promising supreme hospitality experiences.

The part of the hotel which will be managed by John Keells is expected to be completed and start operating around the third quarter of this year. On the other hand, Melco confirmed that it expects to start operating the casino at City of Dreams Sri Lanka around mid-2025.

-Mk Ssports

Mohegan Gaming’s digital division has expanded its expertise and payment capabilities through a tie-up with the prominent payment operator

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Mohegan Gaming is strengthening its payment capacity with PayNearMe which has now partnered up with the company’s online gaming arm, Mohegan Digital, to offer better iGaming payment solutions for the company’s operations in Pennsylvania. This partnership comes a week after Mohegan Digital introduced its online casino in the market, featuring 500 games, among which are jackpots, slots, and live dealer tables.

Mohegan Gaming Bolsters Payment Capabilities

Mohegan Digital is going to benefit from PayNearMe’s MoneyLine solution which will enable Mohegan Digital and the operator’s customers to use a variety of payment options for deposits and withdrawals, including Guaranteed ACH, Cash at Retail, PayPal and Venmo, among some of the most trusted payment options.

Mohegan Digital president Rich Roberts has welcomed this opportunity to see his company gear up for expanding in the Keystone State by teaming up with one of the most prominent payment providers that will facilitate the experience for consumers in the market, making it easy for them to deposit and cash out instantly.

“PayNearMe’s MoneyLine platform allows us to stay competitive while saving our product team the significant time and cost that would have been required to integrate multiple payment types and channels,” Roberts said, speaking of the partnership.

Mohegan Digital will similarly also gain important insight into its payment systems thanks to PayNearMe, which will feature an insights dashboard that will help with analyzing customer behavior, but also improve player protection and enhance the company’s fraud and risk prevention safeguards.

Building a More Robust Offer for the Casino and

As to PayNearMe, the company’s VP and general manager of iGaming and sports betting Leighton Webb has welcomed the opportunity to work with Mohegan Digital and enhance the operator’s offering in the highly-competitive Pennsylvanian iGaming market.

“Our commitment is to help operators get to market quickly with the payment types and optimization tools they need to deliver a great player experience. We look forward to supporting Mohegan Digital’s growth as they expand their online gaming presence,” Webb said.

-Mk Ssports

Famous for its charitable initiatives, the casino property has donated over CAD 5.2 million ($3.8 million) to KRLA since 2013

Image Source: Elements Casino Chilliwack

Elements Casino Chilliwack, a casino property in British Columbia, Canada, has unveiled a donation of almost a million Canadian dollars to The Knight Road Legacy Association (KRLA). The funding, according to the casino’s official announcement, will fuel dozens of local charities, in line with the gaming property’s goal to make a positive change.

As announced by Elements Casino Chilliwack, it has proudly donated CAD 925,495 (approximately $677,110) to charities in the city. A total of 47 local non-profits in the area will benefit from the donation, acquiring crucial funds to continue their initiatives.

This is not the first time Elements Casino Chilliwack has donated money to such causes. Famous for its charitable initiatives, the casino property has donated over CAD 5.2 million ($3.8 million) to KRLA since 2013.

The casino said that it is proud to once again be able to support KRLA and its initiatives.

Elements Casino Chilliwack is #PROUD to present The Knight Road Legacy Association (KRLA) with a cheque of $925,495!

Elements Casino Chilliwack statement

The cheque was awarded at a ceremony in the presence of Elements Casino Chilliwack’s director of operations Rhonda Dyck, Great Canadian Entertainment’s regional vice president Michael Worth and KRLA’s president Jerry Wernicke.

Other BCLC News

Speaking of British Columbia, the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) recently warned the public about an increasing number of online scams. According to the regulator, an increasing number of fraudulent online operators are now presenting themselves as legitimate BC casinos in an effort to collect financial information or personal details.

In more recent news, a new report showed that some of Ontario’s wagering operators are advertising their products nationwide, despite being legal only in Canada’s most populous province. According to Marie-Noëlle Savoie, the British Columbia Lottery Corporation’s chief compliance officer, Canadians are getting bombarded with gambling ads in markets where there’s no regulation established or where the gambling operators do not hold a license

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If the Lake of the Ozarks casino secures the Missourian voters’ approval, the state will get a new resort featuring a hotel, casino, spa, restaurants, shops and a convention center, among other facilities

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Over 320,000 Missourian voters have signed a petition seeking to greenlight a casino at Lake of the Ozarks. After four consecutive failures to get the casino question on the ballot, the matter may finally be put to voters.

For context, the Missouri constitution only allows casinos to be constructed near the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. This means that the people of the state must vote in favor of a constitutional amendment in order to expand the list of waterways that allow gaming.

The signatures will now be verified by the state. For reference, the number of certified signatures needed to get the matter to the ballot is approximately 173,000.

If the Lake of the Ozarks casino secures the Missourian voters’ approval, the state will get a new resort featuring a hotel, casino, spa, restaurants, shops and a convention center, among other facilities. This is a significant departure from the traditional riverboat model other casinos in the model still use.

While Missouri legally defines casinos as “excursion gambling boats,” it interprets this term rather broadly and, in 2021, amended the definition to include “nonfloating facilities.” Casinos can also be on the shore, as long as they are within 1,000 feet of the Missouri or Mississippi River and have at least 2,000 gallons of water inside or underneath the facility in rigid or semi-rigid containers, tanks or structures.

The Project Will Provide Benefits to the Local Economy

The Lake of the Ozarks casino question is being promoted by the Osage River Gaming & Conventions (ORGC) investor group. The group, which turned to polling after failing to get the casino matter to appear on the ballot previously, is optimistic about its momentum.

The organization pointed out that the project will generate significant benefits for the local economy. For example, tax revenue from the project will provide local schools with a significant boost. Local revenue, on the other hand, will fuel a variety of public services, including infrastructural upgrades.

Additionally, proponents expect the Lake of the Ozarks casino to bolster tourism. The 20-acre property’s facilities will provide a variety of entertainment options to gaming and non-gaming visitors alike.

The new property will be run by Bally’s Corporation and will create between 700 and 800 permanent jobs.

-Mk Ssports

The controversial millionaire streamer has blasted detractors who have repeatedly taken issue with his gambling habits and streaming

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Twitch and Kick streamer Félix Lengyel, or as he is known for his online handle, “xQc,” has blasted people who have repeatedly brought up his tendency to stream gambling for the “kicks of it,” accusing the former Overwatch professional player of opportunistically accepting deals with crypto gambling platforms and casinos and expose his followers to gambling.

Who Are You to Moralize – Ghandi?

xQc has repeatedly denied any ill intent on his part but has now become irate once again, calling out his detractors “losers.” He put himself in the same basket with Trainwrecks,  a fellow streamer who has proven even more controversial over his misogynistic comments on X, formerly Twitter, against female streamers and members of the community.

xQc has called out the moralizing bunch “losers” who want “something out of it.” The streamer was convinced that it was not simply a matter of taking the moral high ground, but also a desire for those same people who blasted him to gain something financially out of the situation or impede xQc and Trainwrecks’ own success.

“Like, what do you think prompts somebody to do this? What do you think, because they’ re like the messiah, they’re like Gandhi. That they save the world? Like, dude, they want something out of it, some sort of a reward. They feel they should get the bonus for being morally just. The reality it, there isn’t [a bonus]. You’re a loser. You’re not better than anybody else, you are a dumbf—k.”

xQc is said to have $100 million non-exclusive deals with Kick, the newly-formed streaming platform that was launched to offer a laxer approach to streaming content, with a particular focus on gambling, in the wake of Twitch’s ban on gambling.

Not Ashamed to Make an Honest Living

Over the years, xQc has tried to convince his audiences that he “actually enjoyed” gambling and it was something he would rather do than play Overwatch, for example.

More recently, though, the streamer seems to be making a clean breast out of his affinity for gambling which is at least partially rooted in the serious contracts he has been landing with gambling companies.

Both Trainwrecks and xQc have reported over the years that they had been broke because of gambling and promoted at least a moderate form of responsible gambling. Yet, their relationship with the gambling industry has only grown deeper.

Twitch may also be a target for takeover from Kick’s co-founder Bijan Tehrani, who has said as much himself earlier this year.

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The gaming industry’s contributions to the state reflected the decrease in revenue and declined by almost $2.6 million to approximately $69.8 million

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The revenue generated by Maryland’s casino operators has experienced a significant decline, according to the latest report. As it turns out, the state’s six casinos generated approximately $163.2 million in revenue from table games and slots – a figure that represents a decrease of $11.6 million year-on-year.

The gaming industry’s contributions to the state reflected the decrease in revenue and declined by almost $2.6 million to approximately $69.8 million.

The figures reported by the casinos show year-on-year declines across the board. Only one casino, namely the Hollywood Casino in Cecil County, managed to beat the odds and report a revenue growth. For context, that property’s revenue increased by 6% to $7.93 million.  

In the meantime, the Live! Casino and Hotel in Anne Arundel Country, a property boasting some 3,800+ slots and approximately 180 table games, experienced a revenue decline of $1.14 million. Despite the slight decline, the property’s overall revenue still stood at $60.86 million.

Ocean Downs Casino in Worchester County, on the other hand, experienced a decline of 7,6% to $7.32 million. MGM National Harbor in Prince George’s County, meanwhile, reported a revenue decline of 9.8% to $68.8 million.

Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore reported a decline of 10.8%. Rocky Gap Casino in Allegany County got the worst of it as its revenue plummeted by 20.6%.

A Man Was Robbed at Horseshoe Baltimore

Speaking of Horseshoe Casino, the property recently became the site of an armed robbery. In late April, a man named Justin was approached by two masked robbers who pointed guns at his head and asked him to give them all of his valuables. Fearing for his life, Justin complied.  

The man later told local news outlets that casino goers should feel safer than that. He questioned the property’s lack of security, saying that the garage is an obvious spot where criminals could strike. However, such areas of “real terror” are currently completely undefended.

In other news, Maryland continues its efforts to legalize online gaming. However, an iGaming bill was deferred to 2026 amid various setbacks.  

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In addition to arresting the five men, the police were able to seize a whopping 585 fake chips worth approximately $750,000

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The Macau Judiciary Police have arrested five Chinese nationals suspected to be related to a cross-border criminal syndicate. The criminal organization, according to the authorities, uses counterfeit chips in casinos in Macau.

The arrests followed a recent report from a casino in the Cotai area where a customer exchanged fake chips for money. After the staff realized that they had been scammed they referred the matter to the police.

Local authorities immediately launched an investigation into the matter and quickly arrested five men from mainland China at the casino. Aged between 21 and 28, the five arrestees were suspected of being a part of a criminal organization that imports fake chips into Macau. The police are currently on the lookout for three other suspects who might be related to the case.

In addition to arresting the five men, the police were able to seize a whopping 585 fake chips worth approximately $750,000. More than 130 of those were discovered in toilets and taxi compartments near the border and might have been abandoned by other participants in the criminal scheme.

Upon careful inspection, the police concluded that the fake chips were extremely realistic and difficult to differentiate from real ones at first glance.

The Macau authorities believe that they are dealing with a fairly new criminal organization. According to the police, the group is believed to have started its illegal scheme in March.

The investigation is still ongoing.

Macau Seeks to Crack Down on Gambling Crime

Speaking of gambling crime in Macau, the country recently proposed a law that would exempt minor gambling offenders from prosecution, or at least reduce their penalties, if they provide evidence against others.

In addition to exempting whistleblowers from penalties, the new law would allow the police to search the property of potential witnesses or suspects during the night.

Additionally, Macau lawmakers proposed an amendment to the region’s Criminal Procedure Code that would allow it to implement an extension of detention measure. This matter was raised after Alvin Chau, the chairman of the controversial Suncity junket, argued that the detention period of certain individuals in the Suncity case had already expired.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has left many casino workers in Cambodia out of a job, prompting widespread protests against the alleged injustice perpetrated on casino staff

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Cambodia’s Supreme Court has not shown leniency in the case of a labor union leader who organized one of the longest-running strikes against the country’s biggest casino, with the detainee, Chhim Sithar, alleging that NagaWorld laid off workers illegally and attempted to bust the union’s efforts to fight back.

No Reprieve for Determined Union Labor Leader

The Supreme Court found Sithar, president of the Labor Right Supports Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld, to have acted against the law, upholding his two-year prison sentence originally meted out in May 2023. Sithar was brought up on charges of incitement to commit a felony, and the court has now upheld the sentence, meaning that Sithar will have to serve out his sentence.

Sithar was the driving force behind the protests that erupted in December 2021, protesting mass layoffs at the NagaWorld Casino in the country’s capital, Phnom Penh and was finally arrested in January 2022, after refusing to back down and tell union workers to go home. NagaCorp has since recovered, demonstrating strong growth.

NagaWorld fired 373 employees as the casino faced the financial pinch of the pandemic and lack of tourists, which significantly depressed operational results and brought business to a standstill. Despite Sithar’s arrest, though, many of the fired workers continue to rally and protest both her incarceration and sentence, as well as the way NagaWorld and Cambodia’s legal system have treated the case.

Yet, some have opted out of settlements with the company, and some 200 ex-workers have already accepted settlements. Yet, others have not been so lucky. Sithar may have been dubbed a “ringleader” by the court, but she is not alone, as eight of her fellow union workers have also been handed down 18-month prison sentences as well.

Illegal Detention and Human Rights Champion

Sithar though is unlikely to be released earlier. She will end her sentence term later this year. She is also the recipient of the US Department of State Human Rights Defender Award and this distinction comes at a time when the United States has warned that doing business in Cambodia could pose significant risk to investors, alleging that corruption ran deep in the state.

Cambodia has vehemently denied these accusations.  Yet, the fate of Sithar is no way to assuage concerns about underhand practices that favor powerful businesses over citizens. NagaWorld began operations in 1994 and the casino is owned by the powerful Malaysian billionaire Chen Lip Keong and his family.

-Mk Ssports

Ahead of the opening of Caesars\’ casino in Danville, the cost for the project nearly doubled

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The leading gaming, hospitality and entertainment company, Ceasars Entertainment, started the work on its permanent casino in Danville, Virginia, a few years ago, in 2022. Ahead of the opening of the resort, planned for this December, the cost of the project has significantly increased.

While initially, Ceasars anticipated an investment of approximately $400 million, the construction of the permanent casino has nearly doubled, as suggested by a new report. On Monday, WDBJ confirmed that the cost for Caesars’ Danville casino project has increased to approximately $750 million.

The new sum represents a significant increase of nearly double what was estimated as the initial investment. In light of the increase in capital investment, the company is reportedly collaborating with the city about changes to its development agreement.

The Company Considers Changes to Its Agreement with the City

As a part of the changes, Caesars is anticipating selling between 10 and 20 acres of land to Danville. Provided that this sale is greenlighted by city officials and the land returns to Danville ownership, it is likely going to be used for the development of a new park.

Further changes to the development agreement involve reducing the minimum number of employees for the Danville permanent casino project. While initially, the minimum number of employees was 1,300, Caesars may consider decreasing this number to 900.

Ken Larking, Danville City Manager, who was recently quoted by WDBJ, revealed that over the last couple of years, much has changed. “A lot has changed in the past few years regarding the nature of construction, the nature of the workforce, and some things that come up that we needed to see happen as well,” he explained. Additionally, Larking pointed out: “So, we worked together for the past several months to come up with an agreement we can both be satisfied with.”

Recently, Caesars released its first quarter results, highlighting a decline despite an increase in iGaming win. The company’s quarterly report revealed that its net revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2024, halted at $2.7 billion. A year-over-year comparison showed a slight decrease when compared to the $2.8 billion result in 2023.

The adjustments to the development agreement between Caesars and Danville were recommended for approval by city staff. Still, the final decision is in the hands of the City Council. A vote on the proposed changes is scheduled to take place at the City Council’s meeting on Tuesday.

-Mk Ssports