Asia round-up: The Trojan Tiger; SJM’s revenue reshuffle, NSW warning & more

SJM Holdings is shaking things up in Macau. The operator is in the middle of renegotiating revenue-sharing terms with its satellite casinos — and it’s not playing nice. SJM reportedly plans to take a bigger cut of the profits, leaving less for its satellite partners.

According to SJM’s VP and CEO Ambrose So Shu Fai, the move comes as rising operational costs — averaging over HK$10 million per day — continue to pressure casino operators. With staff cuts off the table and revenue down, tightening the revenue split seems to be SJM’s next move.

COVID-19 impacts, China’s border control, and anti-gambling measures have all taken a toll on Macau’s gaming scene, and this latest development may just be the beginning of a broader shake-up.

Okada Manila Back Under Universal Control

Drama at Okada Manila has taken another turn. Universal Entertainment, through its subsidiary Tiger Resort Asia Ltd (TRAL), has officially reclaimed control of the resort after a bold move on September 2, 2022.

TRAL members, backed by PAGCOR officials and police, entered the casino and took over operations — ending Kazuo Okada’s control, which began earlier this year. While reports suggested some tension during the transition, Universal stated the takeover was "generally peaceful."

PAGCOR has now withdrawn its recognition of Okada’s group as the legitimate operator. However, Okada himself still retains his status as stockholder, director, Chairman, and CEO — at least for now. Meanwhile, Bryon Yip is back in as President by order of PAGCOR.

Okada’s team isn’t staying quiet either — they’ve accused PAGCOR of violating Supreme Court orders and are threatening legal action. Stay tuned.

New South Wales to Casinos: Misbehave, and Pay Up

Over in Australia, the New South Wales Independent Casino Commission has officially launched — and it's not messing around. The new body has the authority to investigate misconduct, impose huge fines, and go after executives who look the other way.

Casinos in NSW can now face penalties of up to AU$100 million (around US$67.8 million). Senior execs and board members could even be held personally liable if they ignore illegal activity like money laundering.

The message is clear: clean up your act, or pay the price.

Calls for a National Regulator Grow Louder in Australia

As pokies losses continue to rack up across Australia, experts are pushing for a national gambling harm regulator.

New research from Monash University shows that Australians lost over AU$11.4 billion on poker machines in just one year — with Victoria alone reporting over AU$2.2 billion in losses. That’s an average of AU$2,800 per gambler, and that figure doesn’t even include losses inside casinos.

Losses dropped in Victoria and NSW (thanks to pandemic shutdowns), but climbed in Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania compared to pre-COVID numbers. The Alliance for Gambling Reform is now calling on the government to step in and establish a unified national watchdog.

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