• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Tuesday 5 August 2025
  • zh-hant 中文
  • ja 日本語
  • en English
IAG
Advertisement
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
IAG
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

Macau poker rooms close as confusion reigns over China policy

Ben Blaschke by Ben Blaschke
Tue 8 May 2018 at 07:08
IEC “very, very close” to securing new home for PokerStars LIVE Macau
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Macau’s poker industry has taken a series of devastating blows this month with the closure of two poker rooms and the cancellation of a new tournament series in the wake of a recent crackdown on online poker applications by the Chinese government.

And there could be more pain on the way with the World Series of Poker – which held the very first WSOP China in Sanya late last year – seeking clarification amid rumors that the 2018 event could be cancelled.

In what is undoubtedly the biggest setback Macau poker has suffered in years, the popular PokerStars LIVE Macau poker room at City of Dreams – host of the Macau Poker Cup, APPT Macau and the Asian Championships of Poker – is currently looking for a new home after Melco Resorts & Entertainment chose not to renew its contract. Despite the recent Macau Millions main event attracting a record field of 2,499 players, staff were seen breaking down and removing poker tables just a day after the event finished – bringing to an end PokerStars’ five-year tenure at City of Dreams after first moving there in 2013.

Neither PokerStars nor Melco Resorts replied to requests for comment, however it is believed that a re-imagining of the main gaming floors ahead of City of Dreams’ upcoming Phase II launch is behind the decision. Melco Resorts recently relocated former Studio City Property President David Sisk to City of Dreams to overhaul mass and premium mass.

Inside Asian Gaming has been told that PokerStars spoke briefly with neighbouring MGM COTAI about a possible partnership but that prospect was quickly scuppered.

Meanwhile, Galaxy Macau has also shut down its poker room. The modest eight table room – used exclusively for cash games rather than tournaments – was refurbished and re-launched just over a year ago but failed to gain any real traction with the broader poker community.

Meanwhile, a new event scheduled for the week of 16 to 20 May, the International Poker Tour Macau, has been cancelled as a direct result of China’s poker crackdown.

Organizer Alisports released a statement last week informing players that the event had been postponed “after careful consideration.” IPT Macau’s business model was largely centered around Chinese players qualifying for the tournament via the Alibaba poker app.

In April, Chinese authorities announced that poker would no longer be recognized as a competitive sport and simultaneously banned the promotion of Texas Hold’em via social media applications.

The ban will require all apps offering any form of social poker game to be shut down and removed from app stores by 1 June. Social media channels such as WeChat will also be banned from promoting any form of Texas Hold’em product.

Given that poker in China largely exists via these social media apps, the ban was always expected to be a devastating blow for players and the companies that enable them. Among the companies likely to be hit hardest are Ourgame – owners of the World Poker Tour – and Boyaa Interactive, whose Boyaa Poker Tour relies heavily on players qualifying via its app.

Boyaa’s 2017 Annual Report indicated a 73% increase in “average revenue per paying user” via its mobile Texas Hold’em Games – the biggest jump across any of the company’s segments. It is understood that Texas Hold’em games account for up to 70% of Boyaa’s interactive revenue.

Likewise, Tencent was quick to remove its Tencent Poker app from app stores after the announcement last month, however rumors circulating on Chinese social media this week that WSOP China has also been cancelled are wide of the mark.

The WSOP signed a historic 10-year partnership agreement with Tencent in 2017 that saw them host the inaugural WSOP China at the Shangri-La in Sanya in December – a series of 12 “free to play” events in which all players qualified via the Tencent app.

A WSOP spokesman confirmed to IAG on Monday that there had been no announcement made on the future of WSOP events in China but added, “We’re all waiting for clarity from the Chinese government to see what the impact may be.”

The WSOP and Tencent had announced last year their intention to host similar events to the inaugural WSOP China in major cities around the country.

In the meantime, Macau is currently left with just one regular tournament poker venue – the Macau Billionaire Poker Room – which last week hosted the APT Macau Championships 2018 at Babylon Casino.

RelatedPosts

Experts claim 90% of Macau money exchange gangs eradicated since passing of illegal gaming law

Morgan Stanley says Macau now a growth market, raising 2025 GGR and EBITDA forecasts after two consecutive monthly beats

Mon 4 Aug 2025 at 11:48
Macau GGR up 19% year-on-year to MOP$22.1 billion in July, sets new post-pandemic record

Macau GGR up 19% year-on-year to MOP$22.1 billion in July, sets new post-pandemic record

Fri 1 Aug 2025 at 12:49
Melco’s long-stalled Countdown Hotel at City of Dreams to be converted into 150-key all-suite hotel

Melco’s long-stalled Countdown Hotel at City of Dreams to be converted into 150-key all-suite hotel

Fri 1 Aug 2025 at 06:45
Wynn Macau named Official Venue Partner for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022

Wynn Macau locks in US$1 billion increase to facilities agreement

Fri 1 Aug 2025 at 06:20
Load More
Share8Share1
Ben Blaschke

Ben Blaschke

A former sports journalist in Sydney, Australia, Ben has been Managing Editor of Inside Asian Gaming since early 2016. He played a leading role in developing and launching IAG Breakfast Briefing in April 2017 and oversees as well as being a key contributor to all of IAG’s editorial pursuits.

Current Issue

Editorial – Better late than never

Editorial – Better late than never

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 07:13

Inside Asian Gaming has in recent weeks been hearing increasing chatter around a possible move by Vietnamese authorities to introduce...

Angel’s Yasushi Shigeta

Angel’s Yasushi Shigeta

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 07:08

Yasushi Shigeta, Chairman and owner of one of the world’s largest gaming industry suppliers, Angel Group, sits down with Inside...

The Magic Number

The Magic Number

by David Bonnet
Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 06:41

In this in-depth deep dive into the evolution of the Asian gaming landscape, David Bonnet argues that many regional jurisdictions...

Rashid Suliman – A road well traveled

Rashid Suliman – A road well traveled

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 02:45

Rashid Suliman, Vice President of Global Gaming Asia-Pacific for casino solutions provider TransAct Technologies, provides some insight into his unique...

Evolution Asia
Your browser does not support HTML5 video.
Aristocrat
GLI
Nustar
SABA
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
HKUST
NWR

Related Posts

Legal battle continues to hurt Donaco’s bottom line

Donaco shareholders approve US$35 million privatization bid

by Ben Blaschke
Mon 4 Aug 2025 at 15:36

A proposal by Hong Kong’s Argyle Street Management Limited to acquire 100% of the shares in ASX-listed, Southeast Asian casino operator Donaco International Ltd that it doesn’t already own is one step away from becoming reality after Donaco shareholders on...

Light & Wonder’s Siobhan Lane

Global debut of “Fortune Doors” among five Light & Wonder game families to be showcased at next week’s Australasian Gaming Expo

by Ben Blaschke
Mon 4 Aug 2025 at 13:16

Global gaming giant Light & Wonder will debut its latest game family, Fortune Doors, at next week’s Australasian Gaming Expo in Sydney – one of five game families offering 14 unique themes between them to feature at the company’s stand....

Experts claim 90% of Macau money exchange gangs eradicated since passing of illegal gaming law

Morgan Stanley says Macau now a growth market, raising 2025 GGR and EBITDA forecasts after two consecutive monthly beats

by Ben Blaschke
Mon 4 Aug 2025 at 11:48

Investment bank Morgan Stanley has raised its Macau GGR and EBITDA growth forecasts for 2025, and operator price targets by 30% across the board, following two consecutive monthly beats in June and July. In a Monday note, Morgan Stanley analysts...

Hann Resorts founder Dae Sik Han says IPO essential to ensure no delays to Clark expansion plans

Hann Resorts founder Dae Sik Han says IPO essential to ensure no delays to Clark expansion plans

by Ben Blaschke
Mon 4 Aug 2025 at 06:02

The Chairman and CEO of Hann Philippines Inc, Dae Sik Han, has revealed he opted to proceed with an initial public offering on the Philippine Stock Exchange to ensure his ambitious expansion plans could proceed without delay. Hann, the parent...

Your browser does not support the video tag.


IAG

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • English