Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING | July 2011 52 Briefs Regional Briefs year to ensure that both operators are compliant with rules and regulations. RichardMagnus, chairman of the CRA, said that the inspections will be timely as both Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) and Marina Bay Sands (MBS) have been running for over a year and would have straightened out any kinks in their operations, reported The Straits Times . Mr Magnus said the checks are necessary to determine whether or not the casino operators are complying with the Casino Control Act, its regulations and licensing requirements, internal controls and approved game rules. However, CRA would not reveal details on what the inspection would include, but industry experts said that a full- scale inspection would include an audit of the casinos’ accounts to ensure that the right taxes are being paid and all money exchange transactions are legal. The casinos’ surveillance systems will be checked, and games will be scrutinised to ensure that they adhere to rules and regulations. Macau-based gaming consultant David Green, who assisted in drafting Singapore’s casino regulatory framework, said that CRA may also run further background checks on the casino staff. He also added that an inspection of such a scale could possibly take between three and four months to complete for each casino. Tony Compton, a lecturer in casino management at Boston Business School, says that a full audit on door control is also possible since Singaporeans and permanent residents have to pay a levy of S$100 (US$82) to enter the casinos for a day, or a one-time payment of S$2,000 for a year. He added that the audit is “to make sure that the operators are checking everyone who goes to the casino”. The comprehensive inspection will be the first since both integrated resorts began their operations last year. The CRA administers and enforces the Casino Control Act, which was passed in February 2006. It can fine operators and individuals up Macau businessman Carson Yeung charged with money laundering Carson Yeung, the chairman of a Hong Kong-listed investment company with business interests in Macau, has been arrested in Hong Kong in relation to a money laundering investigation involving inquiries by the territory’s Narcotics Bureau. Carson Yeung is best-known internationally as the chairman of English football club Birmingham City. He has also appeared at a high profile event at the Macau casino resort Ponte 16 alongside Ponte 16’s senior management team, including Dr Ambrose So, Chief Executive Officer of SJM Holdings Ltd. Hong Kong-listed SJM is an investor in Ponte 16 via its subsidiary Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, S.A. In February, Carson Yeung made the winning HK$100,000 bid at a charity auction at Ponte 16 for the right to try on a rhinestone- studded white glove once worn by Michael Jackson. The glove had previously been purchased by Ponte 16 at an auction in New York and is now on permanent display at the resort. Carson Yeung was listed on Ponte 16’s website following the February event as one of five people “officiating” at the first anniversary of the MJ Gallery. Carson Yeung’s company, Birmingham International Holdings Ltd, was known as Grandtop International Holdings Ltd prior to his takeover of Birmingham City Football Club in October 2009. In its 2009 annual results filed with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Birmingham International Holdings said: “In the last financial year, the Group’s turnover was derived from Macau and the United Kingdom and accounted for 73.3% and 26.7% respectively.” “For the year ended 31st March, the Group recorded a consolidated turnover of approximately HK$10.7million,”adds the report. It doesn’t specify the nature of the company’s Macau business. The 2010 annual report makes nomention of Macau. It refers only to activities in “professional football operation, apparel sourcing and trading, entertainment and media services and investment holding”. Hong Kong police arrested 51-year-old Mr Yeung on 29th June“in connection with a money laundering case,” according to a statement issued by the force. It added:“The arrested person has been charged with five counts of dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of an indictable offence and is detained in police custody.” Singapore casinos to face full-scale inspection The Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) will conduct a full- scale inspection of the two casinos in Singapore at the end of the Carson Yeung The casino at Resorts World Sentosa