Inside Asian Gaming

IAG FEB 2021年2月 亞博匯 70 Will NagaCorp, operator of hugely successful Cambodian IR NagaWorld, enter the Japan IR race? 在柬埔寨取得巨大成功的金界娛樂城的營運商金界控股會否加入日本IR競逐？ JAPAN company suspended all payments to its creditors to preserve liquidity amid pandemic-related troubles in its cruise business. In November, as part of their 2020 Q3 update, Genting’s language on Japan changed from their standard “continuing to monitor developments and anticipate the RFP” line to a more cautious tone: “We will evaluate the conditions of the Request-for- Proposal (RFP) and the investment environment when the formal bidding process begins and will respond with a proposal if these conditions meet the Group’s investment criteria. ” [emphasis added] Could this be the first chink in Genting’s armour? Bloomberry Resorts is owner and operator of Solaire, often described as the Philippines’ most successful IR. The company has expressed interest in Japan, and at one stage were linked to Wakayama. But they have been very quiet of late, possibly focusing on riding out the pandemic in their home country. When questioned about Japan 12 months ago by IAG in a face-to-face interview, Chairman and CEO Enrique Razon Jr highlighted a lack of clarity over locations, regulations and escalating IR cost estimates. Arguably, not much has changed. Chairman and CEO of NagaCorp Dr Chen Lip Keong (ranked number 12 in the 2020 Asian Gaming Power 50) has been in expansion mode for the past 25 years. Since 1995, when NagaWorld started as a boat moored in the Mekong river, Dr Chen has been on a winning streak with his 70- year exclusive casino license for Phnom Penh, a highly favorable tax and regulatory regime and the company’s listing on the Hong Kong Stock