While the majority of the casino and gaming industry remains paralysed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Erwin Dickman remains the eternal optimist. The Market Manager for Asia Live Tech predicts that big brand casinos will be able to leverage the digital era and the new normal to open up opportunities in unexplored markets. Dickman took some time out to give our own Beck Liggero Fontana a glimpse into an exciting future.

Despite the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the industry, Dickman believes there’s an opportunity for land-based casinos to expand into the live tables and live casino market. “Land-based casinos need to start ever-evolving,” he said. “A change we didn’t know that would come so soon but it has to happen now. That’s why we are saying that AI gaming is the way to go. Digital gaming has been booming since COVID-19 began. We don’t want to see our ideal land-based casinos go down. We want to see all the big brands continue in this new space, which is the digital element.”

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Dickman elaborated further on the opportunities for the branded tables to make the shift to the digital space. “It’s about how you are going to implement your current land-based tables, implementing a land-based casino system. Implement a ticket online so you can all have your own products,” he said, adding:

Donaco International has let the other shoe drop, announcing two new directors joining their board. This comes just a day after the casino operator announced the departure of their latest CEO.

In a press release, Donaco International revealed Mr Lee Bug Huy (aka Techatut Sukcharoenkraisri) and Mr Paul Porntat Amatavivadhana would join as non-executive directors on the company’s board, effective August 3, 2020. This happens as the company completes it’s Entitlement Offer and associated underwrite.

Amatavivadhana was the founding principal and CEO of Infinite Capital, a successful boutique corporate advisory firm based in Bangkok. Donaco noted he brings considerable experience in M&A, restructuring and capital raisings, with real estate experience to boot. Previously he also acted as non-executive director, having been appointed to the position in July 2015.

That restructuring experience may be necessary, as Donaco announced a 95% year on year drop in revenue for the first half of the year. In that announcement, they made clear that cost cutting would be a necessary next step to free up some capital.

When the possibility that Japan would create a new gambling market through the introduction of integrated resorts (IR) first came up, Wynn Resorts saw it as a golden opportunity and began working on plans to build a venue that was “eight times the size” of its Encore Boston Harbor casino in Massachusetts. It envisioned an IR that would possibly be as big as three million square feet and which could be seen from the International Space Station. It now appears that Wynn might be losing a little of its enthusiasm and has decided to shut down the office it opened in Yokohama, Japan to begin working toward receiving one of the first three casino licenses that would be issued. 

Bloomberg reported yesterday that the Yokohama office is now closed after having been opened just eight months ago. While the retreat shows a shift in short-term goals for the company, Wynn is reportedly still committed to grabbing a spot in the country. It explains that the coronavirus has had “an unprecedented negative impact on integrated resort development,” and that it is considering how to adjust its operations to ”align with a post-pandemic market.”

The COVID-19 saga is undoubtedly part of the equation, as casino operators everywhere have lost millions of dollars in revenue. Before being able to consider spending millions, if not billions, on a new project, they have to shore up existing operations to put the companies back on track. With some predictions indicating that a full recovery may take as many as three years, the prognosis for an easy recovery doesn’t instill a lot of confidence. 

The global pandemic is probably not the only reason, though. Delays in the introduction of Japan’s IR Basic Policy have caused several casino operators to get cold feet and back away. As it stands now, the policy, which will govern how the casino and resort operators manage their activity, won’t be ready for a couple more months, a year later than what had initially been anticipated. 

Things have gone from bad to worse for every footy fan’s second favourite side, the New Zealand Warriors. The old cliché of “it’s not me, it’s you” has reared its ugly head like a cheap prom date. Interim coach Todd Payten has publicly rejected an offer to take the job permanently, leaving the Kiwi NRL franchise in an awkward position for 2021.

Payten rejected the role earlier in the week and then made his decision public, telling NRL media that “it just wasn’t the right opportunity for myself and my family.”

“I had a job interview 14 days ago. I’d been offered the job last Monday and I told the club I’m going to turn it down,” Payten said.

Payten stepped into the Warriors top job for the 2020 season, after Stephen Kearney was sacked from the role. The Warriors have had a tough time during the COVID pandemic. The players have been away from their family or an extended period and a huge injury curse has taken a toll on the club. The refusal for Payten to take the top role has huge ramifications for several out of work coaches in the National Rugby League.

The World Series of Poker 2020 Online Series has been a huge success for virtually everyone involved, with participants registering in their droves, prizepools up way above their initial guarantees and massive top prizes won by players who have been happy to share their magic winning moments.

Now, GG Poker and the World Series have given back and in spades, as they’ve donated over $350,000 to the Caesars Cares Relief Fund to aid those who have found the fight against COVID-19 the toughest.

With $257,853 raised in the 34th Event of the WSOP 2020 Online Series, GGPoker announced that they have put in an extra donation of $96,903 to push the total donation to $354,756. Apart from the triggeringly odd amount, it’s a fantastic donation and one that shows GGPoker have a philanthropic side to them too.

That itself shouldn’t come as a shock, being led by Bryn Kenney and featuring Daniel Negreanu and Fedor Holz as player and partner. They’re good people who have a record of being generous with what they’ve won in the game.