Liechtenstein is renowned for its Alpine scenery and historic castles, but the tiny principality also punches above its weight when it comes to a more down-to-earth tourist attraction - namely casinos. Six currently operate there, dotted across a microstate a tenth the size of London and with a population of just 40,000, earning it the nickname "Las Vegas of the Alps" among punters. All have opened since 2017, after a change in the law made gambling legal, welcoming crowds from Germany and neighbouring Switzerland and Austria to try their luck on slot machines and at tables offering roulette and poker. But all will have to close if supporters of a casino ban being put to a referendum on Jan. 29 get their way. A poster demands: "Foreign casino investors should not call the shot...
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Macau’s government said on Saturday its six incumbent casino operators would be given new licences to operate in the world’s biggest gambling hub from January, with Malaysian operator Genting missing out on a spot. The highly anticipated announcement signals stability and continuity for the Macau operators who have invested more than $50 billion in the Chinese special administrative region in the past 20 years. But the requirement to spend on theme parks, music and sports adds to financial pressure at a time when revenue has plunged under anti-virus restrictions. Officials in Macau, the world’s biggest casino hub, told a news briefing the main considerations for granting licences included ensuring local employment, developing overseas tourist markets and developing non-gaming pr...
Read MoreShares in Macau casino operators soared up to 13% on Monday after the city's leader said China would resume an e-visa scheme for mainland travellers and permit group tours, which could likely boost the footfall in the world's biggest gambling hub. The Chinese special administrative region, which is the only place in the country where it is legal for citizens to gamble in casinos, will aim to open to mainland tour groups in November for the first time in almost three years, the city's chief executive Ho Iat Seng said on Saturday. FILE PHOTO: A woman walks past a Bank of China branch next to the Grand Lisboa hotel and casino (R) in Macau, China December 21, 2019. REUTERS/Jason Lee Macau, a former Portuguese colony, has implemented stringent COVID-19 pandemic restrictions with tight...
Read MoreLosing money due to COVID, the American casino giants that helped make Macao the “Las Vegas of Asia” face a fresh challenge: The tiny Chinese territory wants them to help reduce its reliance on gambling by paying to build theme parks and other attractions. The former Portuguese colony stayed out of business decisions for decades and now is aligning with official strategy on China’s mainland, where foreign companies are required to help pay for the ruling Communist Party’s development ambitions, profitable or not. FILE PHOTO: Gambling tables are set inside the casino during the opening ceremony of the Venetian Macao Resort in Macao. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File) The licenses of MGM Resorts, Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts and three Chinese rivals that invested billions of dollars in M...
Read MoreThe Louvre, The Museum of Modern Art and ... the Hard Rock? Hoping to expand their appeal beyond the slot machine and buffet crowd, some casinos are turning to fine art galleries or exhibitions to bring in new business from customers who might not otherwise visit a gambling hall. In the process, they are helping not only broaden their own customer bases, but are also putting new eyeballs in front of some of the world’s great works of art. Spectators view an image from the "Beyond Van Gogh" exhibit at the Hard Rock casino in Atlantic City, N.J., on Thursday, July 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry) One such effort began Friday at Atlantic City’s Hard Rock casino, where the highly acclaimed “Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience” exhibit opened. The 30,000-square-foot display us...
Read MorePlunging casino revenues in Macau, the world's largest gambling hub, are taking a heavy toll on the wider economy, forcing hundreds of businesses to close down and pushing unemployment to its highest level since 2009. The former Portuguese colony on Wednesday posted one of its worst monthly gambling revenues since September 2020, a week after Macau's government warned that rising job losses and financial strains could trigger social conflicts and destabilise the city's security. The Chinese special administrative region is the only place in the country where it is legal to gamble in casinos. Heavily reliant on casino taxes, which account for more than 80% of government revenue, Macau has had little success in diversifying its economy. "We are the most reliant city in the worl...
Read MoreGambling in Nevada continued a 14-month hot streak in April and a return of international flights boosted travel nearly to levels seen before the coronavirus pandemic began more than two years ago, according to Las Vegas airport, tourism and state casino revenue reports. The $1.13 billion that casinos statewide reported winning last month represented the best April ever for the state, Clark County and the Las Vegas Strip, the state Gaming Control Board said Thursday. Nevada casinos have now reported winning at least $1 billion every month since March 2021. “This month’s total win amount represents the highest April total gaming win recorded all-time for the state, Clark County and the Strip ... aided by a very robust event calendar in addition to the continued return of internati...
Read MoreThe picturesque north-eastern state of Meghalaya has drawn up big plans to bring in casinos and on-line gambling and gaming for tourists to rake in much needed revenues, top officials said. Taxation Minister James PK Sangma said the state government has come up with the Gaming Act following which the Gaming Rules 2021 will facilitate issuing of licenses to operators to conduct games of skill and chance both in online and offline version. As we have seen in many states, this venture has positive impacts not just in terms of GST revenues but also in terms of generating a lot of employment opportunities from the vibrant tourism industry, Sangma told PTI. The move to get into gaming in a big way comes some forty years after archery-based betting was first legalized in Meghalaya, ...
Read MoreIt's been the subject of quiet speculation among diplomats and executives for years, but now global casino bosses are setting their sights on a once improbable prize: gambling in the United Arab Emirates Ras Al Khaimah, one of the smaller and lesser-known of the seven emirates, said earlier this year that it planned to regulate gaming in some resorts. On the same day, Las Vegas casino giant Wynn Resorts said it would build a resort licensed for gaming, or gambling, on a man-made island. The announcements could mark a watershed moment for the Gulf, a region that has traditionally imposed stricter Islamic rules than other parts of the Middle East, and one where gambling has long been off-limits. FILE PHOTO: A general view of the luxury Burj al-Arab Hotel at Jumeirah area in Dubai, ...
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