Asia
MGM Resorts International Looking to Open New Venues in The Asian Market
MGM Resorts International is an American hospitality and entertainment corporation that operates resorts in Las Vegas, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Mississippi. Their resorts include The MGM Grand, Bellagio, Park MGM, and Mandalay Bay.
MGM Resorts’ History
The history of the corporation can be traced back to 1969, when airline and casino magnate Kirk Kerkorian purchased a majority share in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) picture studio. This event is considered to be the beginning of the company.
Grand Name Company, the precursor to what is now known as MGM Resorts International, was established in 1986 by Kirk Kerkorian as a wholly owned subsidiary of Tracinda Corporation. It was rebranded as MGM Grand, Inc. in 1987. After purchasing Mirage Resorts in the year 2000, the corporation changed its name to MGM Mirage.
Despite the fact that the majority of the company’s resorts are already in operation in the United States, the corporation has expressed a strong desire to expand into Asia, with China, Japan, and Singapore being its primary areas of focus.
MGM Resorts in Singapore
The establishment of a venue in Malaysia might be considered a significant milestone for MGM Resorts International. It has been confirmed by Bloomberg that the firm has already spoken with the Malaysian Lim family about the possibility of either taking over their Genting Singapore business or investing in the company. A consensus has not yet been not reached, but it seems probable that MGM will continue its pursuit of the firm in the future.
Singapore’s city state has just two casino operators, Genting being one of them. Sentosa, an island off Singapore’s southern coast, is home to the Resorts World Sentosa complex. According to a recent review by www.casinosnavi.com, the resort has more than 550 gaming tables and 2,400 slot machines, and other electronic games. Theme parks, aquariums, water parks, restaurants, and shopping round out the list of things to do at Universal Studios Singapore.
In addition, Genting Singapore was one of the few businesses owned by the Genting group that remained profitable throughout most of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first quarter of 2022, Genting Singapore reported a 13 percent year-on-year increase in revenues to $225 million and a 17 percent increase in net profit to $29 million.
It’s clear that a potential MGM takeover of the Genting Singapore presence would further strengthen the US casino giant in the Asian market. Not only that they would take over a profitable business with lots of potential for expansion, but they will penetrate another market that’s not accessible to them at the moment. Should an agreement be reached, MGM will become a major player in the Asian market after adding Singapore to their portfolio.
MGM Resorts in Japan
MGM Resorts International also intends to construct a resort in Osaka, Japan, with a price tag of ten billion dollars. The city and prefecture of Osaka have decided to work with MGM, which has formed a partnership with the Japanese financial services giant ORIX. This will allow MGM to operate an integrated resort in the area.
Since Las Vegas Sands Corp., Wynn Resorts Ltd., and other Asian gambling businesses withdrew from developments in Osaka, only the MGM-Orix joint venture submitted a bid to the region’s RFP process for establishing a casino.
This is MGM’s first foray into the Japanese casinos business, and they hope it will be just the beginning. In a statement, MGM Resorts CEO and President Bill Hornbuckle said that “We couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to help enhance and grow Osaka’s reputation as a world-class destination and gateway for the world to the wonders and rich history of Japan.”
MGM Resorts in China
MGM Macau and MGM Cotai are the two locations in China where the MGM brand is active. The MGM Macau was the first business that the corporation had in China, the second one being the MGM Cotai casino resort which officially opened its doors on February 13th, 2018.
1,390 rooms and suites make up the Cotai hotel. There is a 2,000-seat MGM Theater in the hotel as well. More than 2,000 different plant species are housed at Nature’s Art, the world’s biggest art garden. Among those species are many that had been thought to be extinct.
Moreover, the opening of MGM Shanghai looks to be part of MGM’s strategy to increase its presence in the country. A hotel management agreement with Shanghai West Bund Development has been signed by Diaoyutai MGM Hospitality, a 2007 joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. This agreement will see Diaoyutai MGM Hospitality open its first MGM-branded hotel in Shanghai.
MGM Shanghai West Bund will include 161 guest rooms and 58 suites, as well as a range of food and beverage, entertainment, and other services, according to information supplied to the press. The hotel will provide a variety of Las Vegas-inspired entertainment activities, such as live performances by prominent artists and art exhibits, in an effort to attract wealthy tourists and residents alike.
Mr. Bill Hornbuckle, CEO and President of MGM Resorts, stated, “We’re honored that the MGM brand and our China joint venture, Diaoyutai MGM Hospitality, were selected by West Bund Group to operate this premium property in such an iconic zone.”
Final Thoughts
Already with a strong presence in the major Asian markets, MGM could strengthen its presence through a potential takeover in Singapore. Even though an agreement is far from being reached, the initial talks bring a lot of promise for the region.
It’s certainly an interesting development for the resort industry in Asia and only time will tell if the negotiations will come to a positive result. In the meantime, tourists can rest assured that the resort era is far from coming to an end.
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Regulators from across the Asia-Pacific region underscored the need to adapt to digital disruption in the gaming industry during the first-ever Regulators’ Forum held in Manila on Thursday, September 11.
In her keynote address, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) President and COO Wilma Eisma said that while gaming jurisdictions across the region vary in size and maturity, they share common challenges such as cross-border transactions, rapid digitalization, and balancing economic benefits with social responsibility.
“In the Philippines, electronic gaming has become a significant growth driver and PAGCOR has responded with initiatives that ensure accountability, security, and consumer protection while allowing the industry to thrive responsibly,” Ms. Eisma said.
However, she said that digitalization, remote gaming, and emerging platforms are testing the limits of traditional oversight models.
“By exchanging best practices, aligning responsible standards, and keeping pace with innovation, we can ensure that the region’s gaming industry grows not just in size but in trust, resilience, and sustainability,” she said.
Ms. Eisma said PAGCOR has introduced reforms such as stricter advertising rules, stronger financial safeguards, and expanded responsible gaming programs but noted that the greater challenge lies in keeping pace with the rapid evolution of online and remote gaming.
The PAGCOR executive also expressed hope that the Regulators’ Forum will become an annual platform for dialogue, with an expanded edition already being planned for 2026.
“I am confident that this Regulators’ Forum will evolve into a hub for knowledge, collaboration and shared commitment,” she said. “Together, let us set the tone for gaming regulation in Asia: one that is innovative, collaborative and firmly anchored on integrity.”
The event was organized by PAGCOR and Inside Asian Gaming (IAG) and hosted by Newport World Resorts. It gathered regulators, operators, and stakeholders from across the region to tackle concerns on player protection and financial integrity, among others.
The post Digital gaming disruption tackled in 1st AsPac Regulators’ Forum appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) has opened a new overseas office in Singapore. This strategic initiative marks a new chapter in GEG’s growth trajectory and underscores its commitment to promoting Macau as the “World Centre of Tourism and Leisure” to a broader audience across Southeast Asia.
Singapore, one of Asia’s most vibrant and cosmopolitan countries, has long been a key source market for Macau. The new office, located in the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District, will serve as a dedicated hub to enhance connections with the Singaporean business community, as well as showcasing to Singapore and the broader Southeast Asian Region Macau’s dynamic evolving tourism landscape-highlighting its rich cultural heritage, luxury hospitality and increasingly diverse world-class leisure and entertainment experience offering.
The opening of Galaxy’s Lion City office is closely aligned with the Macao SAR Government’s vision to diversify tourism offerings and expand visitor demographics. Through its ramped-up Singapore presence, GEG aims to curate bespoke travel experiences tailored to the preferences of Singaporean and regional travelers, ensuring seamless journeys from planning to arrival.
GEG’s new office will support tourism, meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) inquiries, reinforcing its role as a versatile hospitality leader and a trusted partner for business tourism.
In addition, GEG’s Singapore office reflects the Group’s forward-thinking approach to innovation, customer-centricity and regional collaboration. It also signals GEG’s intent to enhance brand visibility and foster meaningful connections with travelers and stakeholders across Asia.
To celebrate the grand opening, GEG hosted an elegant gala dinner at JW Marriott Singapore, welcoming distinguished guests, business partners and media representatives. Mr. Elmen Lee, Director of Integrated Resort Services at GEG, introduced to the guests the Group’s three flagship properties in Macau-Galaxy Macau and Galaxy International Convention Center, Broadway Macau and StarWorld Hotel.
Mr. Lee said: “Singapore has always been an important source market for Macau. The taste and sophistication of Singaporean travelers naturally align with Macau’s experiential tourism offering. We firmly believe that Galaxy Entertainment Group’s diverse offerings will attract more Singaporean visitors to visit us and explore more. In support of the Macao SAR Government’s vision to promote tourism diversification, Galaxy Entertainment Group is continuing to expand its international visitor base to inject more vitality into Macau.”
Galaxy Macau, Broadway Macau and StarWorld Hotel bring together luxurious accommodations, award-winning dining, premium shopping and world-class entertainment facilities; each with its own unique character. With Galaxy Macau home to nine of the world’s leading luxury hospitality brands under one roof, catering to the diverse needs of international travelers; the Galaxy trio collectively showcases the excellence of Macau’s hospitality industry.
The post Galaxy Entertainment Opens New Overseas Office in Singapore appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Kazakhstan’s Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA) has identified 34 bloggers promoting online casinos on social media, with 11 already facing administrative penalties. The agency has stated that fines alone are not deterring repeat offenders and is now considering introducing criminal liability for such activities.
A law passed in 2024 strictly prohibits outdoor advertising for bookmakers, online casinos and betting pools, as well as their promotion in media, films and video content. According to the FMA, over the past two and a half years, more than 200 illegal gambling operations have been dismantled, and 224 individuals have been held criminally accountable. However, the agency notes that the primary threat now stems from online casinos based abroad.
Since the beginning of this year, authorities have blocked more than 17,000 links, mostly mirror sites for foreign platforms. Despite these efforts, some Kazakhstani payment service providers continue to facilitate transactions linked to such websites. The FMA has pledged to intensify investigations into these financial intermediaries.
Influencer marketing remains a key channel for online gambling promotion. In the first half of the year alone, 34 influencers were identified as advertising gambling services, with 11 fined. But according to the FMA, revenues from such promotions far exceed the cost of the fines, creating incentives for repeated violations.
In response, the agency is exploring whether bloggers’ actions could be legally interpreted as aiding and abetting illegal gambling, a charge similar to promoting financial pyramid schemes, which already carries criminal penalties under Kazakhstani law. Currently, fines for illegal advertising on social media start at 200,000 KZT (approximately $420).
The post Kazakhstan Considers Criminal Penalties for Promoting Online Casinos appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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