THE AMERICAS
Royal Canadian Mounted Police and securities watchdog raid Amaya Gaming’s Montreal HQ. The Hindu community got upset at Gauselmann Group Merkur Gaming for slot title featuring Hindu god Shiva, calling it an insult to one of the most revered gods in Hinduism. Mexican Senate’s President Luis Miguel Barbosa has announced that new gaming law will not be passed until the next senate session. Art dealer Hillel Nahmad gets early release from one-year sports betting sentence. Feds seek $13m forfeiture from Paul Phua defendants; five defendants plead guilty. Ladbrokes CEO Richard Glynn now departing after a four and a half year stint at the helm. Paddy Power announces three new senior exec moves, including new head of online; Betfair CFO sells his entire stake in the company. Adam Meyer, president of Real Money Sports tout service, charged with fraud, extortion, racketeering and brandishing a firearm. Sheldon Adelson’s Restore America’s Wire Act fails to make it into ‘cromnibus’ legislation to be voted this week. November revenues for Ohio’s four casinos was $62.8 million, a 10% year-on-year decline. Revel says its $110m sale to Brookfield Asset Management is officially dead, will now sell to Glenn Straub. Massachusetts State Gaming Commission signed off on a pilot program Play Management System at the planned slots parlor in Plainville. Three social casino titles make Facebook’s 2014 Hall of Fame honors; UK Tory MP Nigel Mills caught playing Candy Crush during hearing. SWAT team stands down after individual commits suicide at MGM Grand in Las Vegas; police shoot suspected robber dead at the Rio. American Gaming Association claims Nevada casinos contributed $53b to economy in 2013; new Las Vegas TV ad campaign doesn’t show any gaming.
EUROPE and MIDDLE EAST
A group from the United Arab Emirates led by M. Akbar Muhammad is offering Mayweather $110 million to face Pacquiao. Coral has inked a five-year extension of its sponsorship of the Scottish Grand National. Norway proposes curbing unauthorized online operators‘ advertising and payment processing.
ASIA
Malaysia launch new 200-strong police task force to tackle high-level ‘sharks’ of gambling rather than just the low-level ‘anchovies’. Genting Singapore hoping for Q2 ground breaking of Resorts World Jeju; Melco Crown’s City of Dreams Manila to soft-launch on Dec. 14. Landing International Development Ltd announced that it is in negotiations to acquire a casino license. Genting Malaysia planning expansion. Macau casinos expected to report revenue decline of as much as 30% in December. PAGCOR won’t issue any new licenses until PH president wraps up his term in mid-2016. Asian Racing Federation puts pressure on governments to help prevent illegal betting on racing events. Hong Kong launches money laundering investigation of Neptune Group exec Cheung Chi Tai
