The thought of turning Cyprus into a massive casino playground is going to take a little more time than expected thanks to COVID-19. The global pandemic has forced casino operators to press the brakes on some of their more ambitious projects, a response to prolonged shutdowns that reduced cash flows and construction possibilities. According to a new update, Cyprus is feeling the sting, as well, and the City of Dreams Mediterranean (CODM) integrated resort project run by Melco Resorts International won’t be ready until sometime late next year, according to the Financial Mirror. That’s almost a year after its initial projected launch.

The casino resort in Limassol carries a price tag of around $667 million, so getting it up and running as soon as possible is paramount to beginning to recuperate that investment. However, according to the Cyprus Gaming and Casino Supervision Commission (CGCSC), in talks with the House Finance Committee this week, Melco and its partners are being forced to respond to the global pandemic’s grasp on the gaming industry. Expected to be the “largest casino” in Europe, even CODM is too big to avoid COVID-19’s wrath.

CGCSV VP Phidias Pilides announced the delay when committee members began asking for an update on the project. He acknowledged the issue and added that casino revenue in Cyprus has taken a hit from the pandemic, but clarified that the commission expects things to begin to turn around significantly after the CODM opens in the third quarter of next year. Melco, which operates Cyprus Casinos through a partnership, is running satellite casinos in Nicosia, Larnaca, Paphos and Ayia Napa, as well as a temporary casino in Limassol, all of which have seen drops in revenue because of the coronavirus.

Cyprus had counted on about $15.7 million (€13 million) in casino tax revenue for its 2021 budget, but that won’t be possible because of the closures from last year. It isn’t yet clear how far off the final amount will be, but all local casinos, at one point or another, had to be completely shut down in order to stop COVID-19 from spreading.

For the past several years, gaming technology company Scientific Games has been dealing with a repeated headache that never seemed to go away. In 2014, a company Sci Games would ultimately control, SHFL Entertainment (Australasia) Pty, had submitted a patent request in Macau for what it said was a new type of electronic gaming machine (EGM) technology. It should have been a simple and straightforward process, but, almost seven years later, SHFL patent issues were still being debated and were at the heart of several legal battles around the world. However, at least some of the drama might now be over, as the top appeals court in Macau has determined that the patent is no good, essentially because it lacks creativity.

SHFL became part of Bally Technologies Inc. in 2013, which was purchased by Sci Games a year later. As a result, Sci Games had control over all intellectual property (IP) rights for almost everything that had been undertaken along the way, and expected to get the most mileage possible out of its acquisition. It wanted to use the SHFL technology to expand in Macau, but that led to a dispute in the gambling city over the legitimacy of the patent request. 

The patent filing submitted in Macau described an EGM that used a dealer station and individual, connected player terminals. Initially, the Macau Economic and Technological Development Bureau rejected the patent, determining that it didn’t prove an “inventive step” in its design. In other words, it didn’t add anything that wasn’t already in use in the gaming industry.

Sci Games didn’t like that response and filed an appeal. It took its fight to the city’s Court of First Instance almost two years ago, where it found a dead end. It then went to Macau’s Court of Second Instance in late 2019, where it once again found itself running into a brick wall. That left just one more avenue, the Court of Final Appeal. 

The idea of an underground tunnel network in and around Las Vegas continues to move forward. Elon Musk and his The Boring Company have been discussing the possibility of drilling under the city to create a new traffic network that would ease aboveground congestion and the first stage continues to find more support. Proposed as a link between the Las Vegas Convention Center and Resorts World Las Vegas (RWLV), a key approval for construction was granted this week by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA).

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that an easement agreement has now been given to The Boring Company by the LVCVA, which will help facilitate the completion of the tunnel between the resort and the convention center’s West Hall. As long as there aren’t any surprises along the way, Musk expects to have the project ready prior to the grand opening of RWLV, which is currently scheduled for this summer. The LVCVA approval comes just after the Clark County Board of Commissioners approved the project last week.

The Boring Company envisions a major underground transportation system serving the Las Vegas area, with several different phases being undertaken. In addition to the link between the convention center and RWLV, there is a separate one between the center and Wynn Resorts’ Encore, located on the east side of the Vegas Strip. There is also another Convention Center Loop that would take visitors around the different exhibition halls, and another tunnel that would connect the Strip to Downtown Vegas. The latter, the Vegas Loop, would also include a stop at Allegiant Stadium and, if approved, another at McCarran International Airport.

RWLV is closely watching the tunnel’s progress and would be thrilled to have it in place prior to the property’s big day. Executives at the massive new resort are anxious to open the doors and are ready to launch, no matter what. The property’s president, Scott Sibella, said recently, We hope COVID is behind us. If COVID isn’t behind us, we hope it is less restricted. But we’re opening next summer either way.”

With the Philippines House of Representatives voting yes on new Philippine Offshore Gambling Operator (POGO) taxes, the question is not if the Senate will approve, but when. Several senators indicate it’s just a matter of time.

In a message to BusinessWorld, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III the Senate would “most probably” pass their own POGO tax bill. also pass a bill taxing POGO workers.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto, who has his own POGO bill with a 30% tax rate, thinks they can put something together. “Surely, we can reconcile both bills,” he wrote to the outlet. “Government needs all the taxes/revenue it can collect from the industry.”

Senator Juan Edgardo M. Angara believes the bill is necessary to keep in the industry in check. “It is better to have a regulated and supervised gaming industry rather than one that exists underground,” he commented.

After a full year without new Marvel entertainment, we’re quickly getting more than we could have possibly deserved. With WandaVision wrapping up in the next few weeks, Marvel’s The Falcon And The Winter Soldier is set to debut on March 19, and Bodog’s got odds on the two biggest questions going into the story.

Based on trailers, the story appears to kick off shortly after the events of Avengers: Endgame, but other than the villain, not much else is clear about the plot. The Falcon, A.K.A. Sam Wilson, and The Winter Soldier, A.K.A. Bucky Barnes, go on an action filled adventure as they appear to be hunted by Captain America: Civil War villain Baron Helmut Zemo, who declares in the trailer, “Superheroes can not be allowed to exist.”

https://youtu.be/IWBsDaFWyTEVideo can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Official Trailer | The Falcon and the Winter Soldier | Disney+ (https://youtu.be/IWBsDaFWyTE)

But really, Zemo, if you’re going after superheroes, why these two? Why not Spider-man, the Hulk or the Zoom lawyer cat?

It’s a weird time in the world right now. We are approaching one year of the “new” and ever-changing “normal” and the future is anything but certain. What is important now more than ever is human compassion, kindness and offering support for those around us, especially to those who are less fortunate than we are. 

I have dedicated several Becky’s Affiliated columns and CalvinAyre.com interviews to the amazing charitable work the professionals in our industry have done over the years, both in an effort to thank them but also to inspire others. Highlighting charity work makes me happy.

Just the other day I noticed this refreshing LinkedIn post of Calvin’s:

Anyone who follows Calvin’s social media is well aware of his deep passion for BitcoinSV technology, but what they might not know is that he’s deeply passionate about his charitable work too.