Inside Asian Gaming

ASX-listed Donaco International Ltd has reported a 53.8% sequential decline in revenue for the first three months of 2021, impacted by an outbreak of COVID-19 in Cambodia that has heavily impacted its flagship casino, Star Vegas, in Poipet.

Multiple venues in the Cambodia border town of Bavet, including a number of casinos, have been ordered closed by Svay Rieng provincial governor Men Vibol as the region looks to contain an outbreak of COVID-19.

The Cambodian capital city of Phnom Penh has been placed into a two-week lockdown as the country looks to halt a rapidly growing wave of COVID-19.

Hong Kong-listed Century Entertainment International Holdings Ltd says it hopes to launch mass table gaming operations at a new casino in Dara Sakor, Cambodia by late April.

The Cambodian government saw the amount of tax collected from the nation’s 193 licensed casinos fall by more than half in 2020, impacted by widespread closures and reduced international visitor arrivals due to COVID-19.

The Cambodian government has reportedly granted provincial administrations permission to restrict travel in and out of their individual provinces as the country fights a growing outbreak of COVID-19.

The governor of Preah Sihanouk, Kuoch Chamroeun, has granted permission for three hotspots in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, including Jin Bei Casino and Hotel, to resume normal operations.

The Cambodian casino town of Sihanoukville has placed an indefinite ban on people entering or leaving the city as it scrambles to get on top of an outbreak of COVID-19.

Hong Kong-listed NagaCorp has shut down operations at its Cambodian integrated resort NagaWorld in Phnom Penh after 11 staff tested positive to COVID-19 over the weekend.

Hong Kong-listed Century Entertainment International Holdings Ltd has signed a revised agreement with its Chairman and CEO, Ng Man Sun, that will allow it to launch mass table gaming operations at a new casino in Dara Sakor, Cambodia in March.

NagaCorp Ltd, owner and operator of NagaWorld in Phnom Penh, has revealed plans to develop a US$350 million non-gaming resort in Siem Reap aimed at promoting NagaWorld and UNESCO world heritage-listed Angkor Wat as “twin tourism icons of Cambodia.”

A report issued by Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism has revealed a 72% decline in foreign visitor arrivals for the first eight months of 2020, including an 83% fall in visitors from mainland China.

Cambodia’s National Assembly has approved its long-awaited draft law on commercial gambling management, aimed at providing greater regulation of the nation’s casino industry.

At least 10 casinos in Cambodia have now reopened since a closure order was lifted in early July, with more expected to follow soon, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Donaco International Limited has reopened its Cambodian casino, Star Vegas in Poipet, with limited operations pending the reopening of the border with Thailand.

NagaCorp has revealed that gaming volume at its Phnom Penh integrated resort, NagaWorld, in August recovered to almost the same levels as before the property’s three-month closure due to COVID-19.

Australian-listed Donaco International Limited says it expects to undergo assessment by Cambodia’s Ministry of Health (MOH) ahead of a planned reopening of Star Vegas in Poipet “within the next few weeks” – but it could be sometime yet before customers return.

Hong Kong’s Century Entertainment International Holdings, formerly known as Amax International Holdings, is set to relocate gaming tables under its operation in Sihanoukville, Cambodia to a new location after the company’s Chairman and owner of the casino in question revealed it was relocating.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has given the green light for almost 200 casinos across the country to reopen, provided they meet certain COVID-19 safety measures as approved by the Ministry of Health.

Hong Kong’s Century Entertainment International Holdings Limited, formerly known as Amax International Holdings, has terminated a lease deal with Cambodia’s Crown Resorts Co Ltd to operate a VIP room at Genting Crown Casino in Poipet, Cambodia.