Inside Asian Gaming

IN FOCUS 26 Tourism Driver South Korea plans to solicit bids for destination-scale casinos capable of boosting visitor numbers and standing up to intensifying regional competition. 32 A Gathering in Tokyo Consensus is Japan’s Diet will move to legalize casinos sometime in early 2014. FEATURES 16 At Solaire, a New Ace in a Reshuffled Deck Once, he was Sheldon Adelson’s man in Singapore, now Tom Arasi is back in Asia as Enrique Razon’s man in Manila. 20 Making Waves Hong Kong’s gambling cruises may be popular, but they won’t be cannibalizing Macau. 22 Back on the Market ‘Cornerstone’ investors are being sought in a bid to resume Resorts World Manila’s IPO plan. 38 Shifting Interests Caesars gambles on refinancing and online poker. 40 A Cautionary Tale A new Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake film, ‘Runner Runner,’ offers a warning for US policymakers, says the American Gaming Association. TECH TALK 36 Results Driven Performance and operational efficiencies have increased MEI’s share of the Resorts World Manila slot floor. BRIEFS 42 Regional Briefs 44 International Briefs 46 Events Calendar 8 Sri Lanka’s Strong Hand The government of Mahinda Rajapaksa wants tourism to become the island nation’s primary generator of foreign exchange earnings and is maneuvering resort casinos into the mainstream of that push. C O N T E N T S COVER STORY