Inside Asian Gaming

www.asgam.com A year in time EDITORIAL A year is a long time in our usually fast- moving industry, but there is no doubt that 2020 felt much longer than most. I was pondering this notion over the Christmas and New Year’s break and found myself looking back to this same time last year. What was it shaping our hopes and dreams as 2019 came to an end? Needless to say, it wasn’t COVID-19! It’s hard to believe that just 12 months ago it was all business as usual in the world’s major casino jurisdictions, with Macau particularly excited about the long-awaited launch of the Taipa light rail in December which brought 60,000 passenger journeys on its first three days of operation. Ironically, Macau authorities also entered 2020 in discussions over introducing a new tourist tax as a means of solving issues of “over-tourism.” What they wouldn ’ t give to have those same problems today… the plan was officially scrapped in May. In the Philippines, all eyes were on the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) amid growing pressure from both China and local opposition groups to better regulate the industry. Such pressure, which followed a move by Cambodia to cancel all online gaming licenses from 1 January 2020, included calls for greater control over the influx of foreign POGO workers and various proposals to increase tax revenue – despite the Department of Finance revealing in January that it had collected US$126 million in POGO taxes in 2019. Meanwhile, the Philippines exited 2019 on a high with Okada Manila reporting record visitation and GGR and Solaire Resort & Casino reaching new heights in mass market table and slot GGR.