Monthly Archives: January 2016

Numbers drawn in record-setting Powerball, California lottery claims winning ticket

A jackpot-winning ticket was drawn in Chino Hills, CA, for tonight’s record-setting Powerball for $1.5 billion, according to the California Lottery. The California winner – and any other yet-to-be-announced winning ticket buyers – will be able to choose annual payments over 29 years or opt for a lump-sum payment of about $930 million.

Analyst: Location critical for Vietnam’s casino plans

Vietnam should put locations for new casinos high on its priority list if it wants to appeal to investors, experts said.

In a note, Union Gaming Securities analyst Grant Govertsen said in order for the Asian country to attract major international casino operators, “the locations would be critical,” among other things.

“Depending on whether or not the government is willing to settle for less, and in the context of the current China macro, it is hard to imagine a scenario where there will be significant international interest on the part of the major players… unless an IR [integrated resort] license (with local allowed) is available for downtown Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City,” said analyst Grant Govertsen in a note.

In addition, Govertsen said the government will also have “to dramatically lower the minimum investment requirement (currently set at US$4 billion), as well as lower gaming tax rates (currently 35 percent) in order [for operations] to be competitive in the region.”

Analyst: Location critical for Vietnam’s casino plans

Vietnam should put locations for new casinos high on its priority list if it wants to appeal to investors, experts said.

In a note, Union Gaming Securities analyst Grant Govertsen said in order for the Asian country to attract major international casino operators, “the locations would be critical,” among other things.

“Depending on whether or not the government is willing to settle for less, and in the context of the current China macro, it is hard to imagine a scenario where there will be significant international interest on the part of the major players… unless an IR [integrated resort] license (with local allowed) is available for downtown Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City,” said analyst Grant Govertsen in a note.

In addition, Govertsen said the government will also have “to dramatically lower the minimum investment requirement (currently set at US$4 billion), as well as lower gaming tax rates (currently 35 percent) in order [for operations] to be competitive in the region.”

Budget woes force eSports team Titan to shut down

Titan, one of the most notable names in the competitive gaming world, is bidding farewell.

The Singapore-based organization announced on Wednesday that it is closing its doors this year because it is no longer able to continue paying their players or staff.

Damien Grust, founder and chief executive of Titan, posted a farewell message on the company’s website that Titan is “starting 2016 without a budget high enough to keep a CS:GO [Counter-Strike: Global Offensive] team or pay our amazing staff. How profoundly sad.”

The executive, however, left no doubt as to what the company’s core problem was.

Budget woes force eSports team Titan to shut down

Titan, one of the most notable names in the competitive gaming world, is bidding farewell.

The Singapore-based organization announced on Wednesday that it is closing its doors this year because it is no longer able to continue paying their players or staff.

Damien Grust, founder and chief executive of Titan, posted a farewell message on the company’s website that Titan is “starting 2016 without a budget high enough to keep a CS:GO [Counter-Strike: Global Offensive] team or pay our amazing staff. How profoundly sad.”

The executive, however, left no doubt as to what the company’s core problem was.

Casino workers call for pay hike amid Macau’s bleak gaming performance

A labor group in Macau is pressing for salary hike for casino employees, despite the casino industry’s ongoing lackluster performance.

Choi Kam Fu, director general of the Macau Gaming Enterprises Staff’s Association, told local media the group has teamed up with two other unions representing casino workers. Together, they will deliver letters “calling for salary increases and bonuses in 2016” to the six casino operators in the city state.

Public broadcaster TDM quoted Choi saying: “The expenditures on the welfare of the staff do not occupy a large portion of the overall operational costs. Some only make up around 10 percent. Based on the adjustment, the expenditures would not draw too much pressure.”

GGRAsia reported that Wynn Macau Ltd. has already announced that employees of Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace will get a one-month bonus ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday period, which starts on February 7. According to the report, which quoted local media outlets, 98 percent of Wynn’s 8,000 employees, excluding senior management, will get the bonus.