Another casino will soon dot the landscape in Vietnam. Suncity Group Holdings has released a statement indicating that construction of the Hoiana integrated resort (IR) is moving forward nicely and added that everything is on schedule for the venue to open its doors sometime during the first quarter of next year. The company’s Assistant VP of Marketing Communications, James Wong, was optimistic in talking to Inside Asian Gaming (IAG), stating that the final preparations for the completion of the first phase are moving along quickly.

Hoiana is being built through an agreement between Suncity, VinaCapital Group out of Vietnam and VMS Investment Group. Suncity has been, for a long time, primarily a casino junket operator, but has been transitioning into direct casino operations, and the project is one of the primary examples of that transformation.

Wong told IAG that, even before the completion of the first phase of the IR, it’s Hoiana Shores golf course will be open. It is expected to see customers tee off before the end of the year as a three-month soft launch that began in September comes to an end. As far as the rest of phase one, he said, “We are looking at the first quarter, most likely late February or March.” Additional phases and completion of the entire venue will take several more years.

Suncity has been working toward making an entrance into gaming operations for more than a couple of years. Wong explained to IAG, “We have been getting experience for the last 12 or 13 years in providing high level service, so we’ve got the skill, we’ve got the database, we’ve got all the software, which makes us ready to be an operator. Now we are testing the hardware. Obviously one of the main reasons is that when we have our own hardware, we have better control to entertain our guests and provide a more unique experience. Under the leadership of Mr. Alvin Chau, this is the strategy of Suncity Group.”

The temptation of being able to walk away with $17,000 in casino chips from the Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Arkansas was too much for a recent patron of the venue. The resort, located in Hot Springs, is a popular destination for area residents and is currently undergoing a major expansion project that the would-be thief might have imagined would provide a decent distraction. Taking his cue from previous attempted heists at casinos in Las Vegas, the gambler grabbed as many chips as he could and made a run for the door. Unlike many of those Vegas escapades, though, he actually made it outside and into the wind – just not for long.

Derrick Patrick Belton Jr. was playing blackjack at the casino last Friday when he decided to pull off his caper. He was reported to have stolen several purple poker chips from the casino, each with a value of $500, from a rack that was sitting next to a dealer before making his grand getaway.

The plot was doomed from the start. As if casino patrons weren’t already aware, the properties have cameras and surveillance equipment all over the place. Security is often tight at all venues, but not so much in certain instances. For example, casino regulars aren’t scrutinized as much as first-timers since they’re known to staff. That familiarity should be enough to keep those regulars honest, but not always. Belton was a regular and even had a player’s card from the casino, according to the Hot Springs Sentinel-Record. It isn’t clear how well he was doing at blackjack, since he apparently can’t put two and two together.

Security personnel from the casino shared video and camera stills with police that showed Belton performing his act. With so much evidence, it was one of the more rapid investigations into a casino theft in recent history, and Belton was picked up this week. He was released after paying bond in the amount of $3,500 and will return to court on December 10 to learn his fate. If the judge decided to throw the book at him, he’s looking at as many as ten years behind bars.

SJM Holdings, which operates casinos in Macau, saw a strong third quarter this year, reporting profit of $94.24 million, 4.5% higher than a year earlier. This was made even more impressive, given that its net gaming revenue dropped 3.2% year-on-year to $1.03 billion. Partly as a result, and despite a dip in Macau’s overall gaming revenue, has announced that it is prepared to give eligible employees annual bonuses and that it will keep this plan in place for at least another three years.

GGRAsia indicates that the company confirmed the bonus structure, which SJM Holdings calls a “living subsidy,” will run from July 1 next year to June 26, 2022. The bonus will be equal to one-and-a-half-months’ salary, or two months’ salary, depending on the employee’s status and longevity with the company. Typically, “eligible employees” refers to non-executive personnel in a casino company when referring to bonuses.

The living subsidy will be paid in two installments – one in the summer and one in the winter. The summer’s payment is expected to be distributed each July, while the winter bonus will hit employees’ checkbooks in January.

SJM, which operates the Grand Lisboa, Ponte 16 and others in Macau, introduced its bonus program in 2014, but all casino operators now offer some similar structure. When it launched the program, it stated that it would be in place at least until 2020, and the updated message is meant to provide guidance on where the company stands, as well as to give employees a better understanding of what’s to come.

The launch of SiGMA 2019, the sixth annual conference in the series, was marked with serious fanfare as it began with Malta Gaming Awards. The ceremony was a very special occasion for this site, as CalvinAyre.com took home the award for Media Agency of the Year.

[Image credit: SIGMA via Twitter]

The category, sponsored by HexoPay, awarded “being able to build and sustain a strong link between the brand and its audience through a successful online presence,” while also being able to provide “fully-integrated customer service.” Other nominees were Gambling Compliance and Focus Gaming News.

Accepting the award for CalvinAyre.com were Publisher and Founder Calvin Ayre, Editor in Chief Bill Beatty, and reporter and host Becky Liggero Fontana.

Slovakia’s state-run gambling operator Tipos is under scrutiny after its offices were raided and its boss arrested on suspicion of money laundering.

On Tuesday, around 30 members of Slovakia’s National Criminal Agency (NAKA) descended on Tipos’ Bratislava offices, leaving with the company’s boss Ján Barczi and IT chief Miloš Prelec in handcuffs. The pair will reportedly face a custody hearing on Friday to determine their immediate fate.

Local media reported that the pair will face charges of “violations of obligations in the administration of foreign property and legalization of income from crime.” Neither Tipos nor the Ministry of Finance have yet to issue any statement regarding the allegations or who is running the ship following the detention of the two execs.

NAKA was reportedly acting on a tip that money was being laundered through Tipos online accounts. Money of questionable origin was reportedly deposited into dormant Tipos accounts, then transferred to private bank accounts without any gambling activity taking place.

Slovakia’s state-run gambling operator Tipos is under scrutiny after its offices were raided and its boss arrested on suspicion of money laundering.

On Tuesday, around 30 members of Slovakia’s National Criminal Agency (NAKA) descended on Tipos’ Bratislava offices, leaving with the company’s boss Ján Barczi and IT chief Miloš Prelec in handcuffs. The pair will reportedly face a custody hearing on Friday to determine their immediate fate.

Local media reported that the pair will face charges of “violations of obligations in the administration of foreign property and legalization of income from crime.” Neither Tipos nor the Ministry of Finance have yet to issue any statement regarding the allegations or who is running the ship following the detention of the two execs.

NAKA was reportedly acting on a tip that money was being laundered through Tipos online accounts. Money of questionable origin was reportedly deposited into dormant Tipos accounts, then transferred to private bank accounts without any gambling activity taking place.