Inside Asian Gaming

JANUARY 2018 INSIDE ASIAN GAMING 13 Lawrence Ho would relocate both himself and the company’s headquarters to Japan if Melco Resorts & Entertainment was awarded a casino license by the Japanese government. In an interview with Reuters, the Chairman and CEO reiterated his view that Japan will become Asia’s most significant gaming jurisdiction outside of Macau with Melco set to go “all-in” in its pursuit of a license. “It’s not just any ordinary project and will become the most important project outside Macau,” Ho said. “I would personally move here while we are building it and we would move the core management team and headquarters here.” Melco Resorts has unveiled its Japan IR concept titled “The City of the Future” – a futuristic and eco-friendly integrated resort boasting state-of-the art facial recognition technology aimed at combatting problem gambling. The concept aims to create the most advanced gaming and entertainment destination in the world while still holding true to the distinct history and heritage of Japan, with Melco stating that its “team of architects, advisors and environmental specialists are working to make the site both energy-neutral and aesthetically daring. Melco Resorts would relocate to Japan if casino bid successful The Stars Group to revive Asia Pacific Poker Tour in 2018 The Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) is set to return in 2018 just 12 months after being dumped as part of a major overhaul by organizer The Stars Group of its global tours. In a December announcement, The Stars Group – owner of the world’s largest online poker site PokerStars – revealed that it was bringing back a number of its most recognized live tournament series including the European Poker Tour (EPT) and Latin America Poker Tour (LAPT). But the news will be particularly well received in Asia with the APPT holding a unique place in history as PokerStars’ first branded international tour when it launched in 2007. The first official APPT event in 2018 will be held at PokerStars LIVE Macau at City of Dreams from 14 to 25 March. The Stars Group – formerly known as Amaya Inc – had controversially announced in 2016 that it was putting an end to the APPT after 10 seasons and combining all of its live tournament offerings into two series – the PokerStars Championship and PokerStars Festival.