Inside Asian Gaming

42 INSIDE ASIAN GAMING | March 2013 INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS MGM Outlines Plans for $4B. Toronto Casino MGM Resorts International and partner Cadillac Fairview have unveiled their plans for a C$4 billion, 1,200-room hotel and casino complex, complete with a shopping mall and a permanent Cirque du Soleil production show, for Toronto’s downtown Exhibition Place. The proposal includes a Canadian Music Hall of Fame as an addition to the Molson Amphitheatre and underground parking for 10,000 vehicles. The plan also includes an expanded transit network to bring people in and out of Exhibition Place, although that hinges on the cooperation of other municipal agencies. The partnership says the development would create 10,000 full- time jobs and another 4,000 construction jobs. Mayor Rob Ford supports the idea of a having a casino built in the city, saying it would create jobs and boost revenue. But many critics, including some city councillors, say allowing a casino in the city would give rise to criminal activity, gambling addictions and add to gridlock. Wynn Resorts, rumored for months to be interested in joining the fray, has officially entered it in the form of a letter to the Toronto city manager promising“another option”in the heated debate under way in Canada’s largest city over whether to license a casino. Wynn said it envisions a development that “will confirm Toronto as a major global tourist and convention destination, one that will integrate seamlessly into the urban fabric of the city while standing out as an architectural asset.” The letter, reported by The Globe and Mail , which obtained a copy, goes on to say that Wynn would work closely with the city “to find an appropriate location”. The letter says the company contributes millions of dollars to the communities where it operates and “would continue that tradition in Toronto.” The casino question was slated to go before Mr Ford’s executive committee this month. A vote by City Council is expected in early April. Rank Cleared to Merge with Gala Britain’s competition regulator has given the OK to Rank Group’s takeover of Gala Casinos. The Competition Commission’s approval comes nine months after the £205 million merger was initially proposed and carries a number of conditions. Several of Gala’s 23 UK casinos—those in Aberdeen, Stockton-on-Tees, Bristol and Cardiff—must be excluded, and Rank must also sell its Edinburgh license to a buyer approved by the commission. Rank, whose portfolio currently numbers 35 casinos and the Mecca Bingo chain, was expected to have to shed a Liverpool casino, which it now will be able to keep. “We think that removing the casinos in problem areas from the deal and requiring Rank to sell the Edinburgh licence to an upfront buyer will protect the interests of customers,” commission Deputy Chairman Martin Cave said. “The excluded casinos are all profitable and so we believe that they will continue to act as viable competitors to Rank in these areas.” Both companies said they are reviewing the terms of the approval, which will push Rank past Genting as the UK’s largest operator. Tough Comps, Tough January for Nevada, LV Nevada gaming revenues in January fell 12.4%and 18.7%on the Las Vegas Strip on difficult comparisons against the same month in 2012. The state’s casinos took in $909.2 million, down from $1.03 billion a year ago. On the Strip, revenues totaled $507 million, compared with $623.5 in January 2012. All the major reporting areas in the state had a negative month. Washoe County, which includes Reno, was down 1.9% year on year. Clark County, which includes all of Las Vegas, saw a 13.3% decline. January 2012 was the state’s first $1 billion month since September 2008 and was fueled by the lucrative Chinese New Year holiday celebration. This year, the holiday was in February and with it the bulk of the Strip’s high-end baccarat play. For the year, revenues were up 1.5% statewide to $10.86 billion, the third straight annual increase. The Strip was up 2.3% to $6.2 billion. Gaming tax collections in February, based on January’s revenue totals, grew 18.3% to $67.9 million. For the first eight months of the fiscal year, gaming tax collections are up 5.5%. WSOP Coming to Facebook The convergence of online gambling and social gaming continues with Caesars Entertainment announcing plans to bring the World Series of Poker to Facebook. Caesars Interactive Entertainment, a division of the LasVegas-based casino giant, is partnering with renowned games developer Electronic Arts to launch a play-for-free app on the social networking site based on the well-known tournament. EA has already developed WSOP apps for the iPad, iPhone and iPod. Players on the Facebook version will compete for virtual prizes and have access to poker statistics and live chat, Caesars Interactive said. “With features and functions pulled straight from theWSOP, the game is designed to appeal to novices and pro players alike,” the company said. “The game offers players the challenge of winning Artist’s rendering of MGM’s vision for Toronto’s downtown Exhibition Place