Dennis Blieden Leads 13 Players into Day 5 of WPT LAPC Championship

The field of this year’s edition of the WPT L.A. Poker Classic $10,000 Championship was whittled down to just 13 contenders from a 493-strong field. Dennis Blieden, a player with two previous live tournament cashes, will be leading the pack of survivors into the penultimate day of WPT action at the host venue, Commerce Casino.

Blieden is a Los Angeles-based player. As mentioned above, his HendonMob profile shows only two previous in-the-money finishes in live poker events. They were both tournaments on the schedule of the World Series of Poker.

Being one of the 13 finalists, Blieden has already secured a minimum payout of $57,300 from the WPT LAPC Main Event to boost his current poker bankroll of a little less than $22,000. What is more, the player has a real shot to win his first WPT Main Tour Main Event.

Blieden bagged and tagged 2.88 million at the end of Day 4, which was played on Tuesday at the host venue. The player was the only one of all three survivors to pass the two-million mark and is well ahead of his fellow contenders. Toby Lewis had the second largest chip stack when play concluded last night, bagging a total of 1.76 million. Derek Walters rounded out the top three of the chip counts chart last night with 1.501 million.

Former WPT Champions Still in Contention

One-time WPT winner Zachary Smiley is going for his second title from the series. The player ended Day 4 with the shortest stack, but has every chance to improve on Day 5. Anthony Zinno, holder of three WPT titles, is also still in contention.

If he wins the event, he will become the first player in WPT history to hold four Main Event titles from the series. At present, Zinno is tied with Gus Hansen, Carlos Mortensen, Darren Elias, and Chino Rheem, with each of them being winner of three titles. Zinno bagged and tagged 1.024 million last night and is in the middle of the chip counts chart for Day 5.

Here it is also important to note that he can also become the first player ever to win the same WPT Main Event twice. Zinno captured his first LAPC Main Event title in 2015.

Play is set to resume today at noon local time at the host casino. As mentioned above, each of the 13 finalists has locked a minimum cash of $57,300 from the series. The remaining survivors will play down to official six-handed final table. That concluding stage of the tournament will take place on Thursday, March 1, at the host venue. The finalists will play until a winner is determined. The last person standing will receive a first-place prize of $1 million, a seat into the WPT Tournament of Champions, and a fancy Hublot watch.

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Brazil deputy fights sudden casino-only legislative push

Brazil’s long-stalled efforts to legalize online gambling could come to nothing after the government made a surprise push to legalize only land-based casinos at integrated resorts.

On Tuesday, Joao Carlos Bacelar (pictured right), a deputy in Brazil’s lower legislative body, gave an impassioned speech in the Chamber of Deputies slamming the Ministry of Tourism’s urgent request for consideration of a plan to legalize integrated resorts.

The plan involves fusing several pieces of legislation, including a bill calling for the creation of the Brazilian Tourism Promotion Agency, another amending the National Tourism Policy to define the federal government’s role in overseeing the nation’s tourism industry.

Deputy Paulo Azi, who oversees the Chamber’s Tourism Committee, pushed for a single urgency vote on the combined legislation, which would bypass the need for further committee input and move the bill to a vote by the full Chamber.

A last-minute addition to the legislation was a call for the legalization of resort casinos in two states, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, while ignoring any of the other gambling verticals – including online gambling – in the twin bills that have been stuck in Brazil’s legislature for several years.

Last December, Chamber President Rodrigo Maia expressed his preference for a casino-only plan, saying it was the only gambling vertical capable of boosting tourism. Maia restated this position at a meeting in Washington, DC the following month.

On Tuesday, Deputy Bacelar publicly slammed Maia’s position, demanding to know “what is behind this measure of legalizing only ten casinos?” Bacelar demanded Maia explain who stood to benefit from preventing the other forms of gambling from being brought into the legal sunlight.

Bacelar pointed out that the casino-only plan “will produce only 20k jobs in the country,” whereas legalizing the various other forms of gambling envisioned under the other legislative proposals would create 700k jobs. As such, Bacelar said he would work to obstruct the casino-only plan until “we know the whole content of the matter.”

LAS VEGAS SANDS TO THE RESCUE … OF SANDS
According to Brazilian gaming media outlet BNL, Deputy Azi justified the casino-only plan by saying it was the preferred option of some of the international casino companies that have expressed interest in setting up shop in Brazil.

Further to that note, Ministry of Finance Secretary Mansueto Almeida was scheduled to meet Wednesday with Andy Abboud, head lobbyist for casino operator Las Vegas Sands, whose boss Sheldon Adelson views online gambling as an existential threat to society.

Games Magazine Brasil quoted Abboud (pictured left) saying Sands supported “a limited and strictly regulated environment for gaming” and “does not believe in the dilution of the market.” Only after establishing a few large land-based casinos should Brazil consider whether “it is appropriate to expand the market over time.”

The post Brazil deputy fights sudden casino-only legislative push appeared first on CalvinAyre.com.

LCB news report for February 2018

We’ll present you this month’s hottest and newest online casinos, show you how you can win a share of $250 in LCB credits for posting stories on romantic slots, and set you up for exclusive casino tourneys with guaranteed prize pools of beyond $10,000.

This is LCB News and here’s our monthly review.

Hi everyone and thanks for tuning in on the first LCB news report of the year! Sorry for not getting a video out in January as we got a bit too merry this holiday, but rest assured this issue will definitely make up for it!

To begin with, let’s talk featured casinos, which for USA players would be Intertops. This long-standing casino is LCB approved and has an exceptional player score and feedback which you can also find in the comments section. Be sure to grab our exclusive free spins bonus when signing up from our site!.

Now, if you’re a cryptocurrency buff then we have a Bitcoin-friendly casino recommendation just for you. It’s called 7Bit Casino and it comes with an exclusive signup and first-deposit bonus that you won’t find anywhere else.

Finally, for players in the UK and across other parts of the world, we present SlotsMillion: a casino powerhouse with over 2000 games, including the world’s first VR casino that you can now play for real money!

So, go on and check out our full casino review for more info.

We have over 25 new casinos with no-deposit bonuses and exclusive offers for you to check as well. So if you’re looking to mix it up with something fresh then be sure to look into the new 666 Casino, which is Dream Jackpots’ devilish sister brand, and the fun-looking WestCasino with VIP rewards and over 600 quality games to choose from.

Every month we have a fun forum contest for you guys, and this month we continue the tradition in the Valentine’s Day fashion. As always, we have $250 in LCB credits up for grabs for our most active participants who can this time, share their love for slots and romance. Be sure to check out the full thread and join in as it’s completely free to participate for all members.

Now, if German is your first language, then we have some more good news for you. Our revamped German LCB forum which includes sections for exclusive bonuses, contests and more is now live and kicking. Make sure to subscribe to each section to stay up to date so you never miss out on exclusive German contests that we host each month.

Now that we’ve pumped you up a little and got you into a competitive mood, just a quick reminder that we have a tonne of exclusive weekly tourneys at various casinos listed right here, some of which are completely free and accept both new and existing players. It’s still not too late to join and claim your share of the guaranteed prizepools, so head on to our Tournaments page to get started.

To wrap up the report with some tears of joy, check out our thread on the funniest and downright ridiculous casino names ever created. Be warned – there are some real stinkers! Now, which are the weirdest casino names that you’ve come across? Share them with us now so we can laugh along with you!

That’s the report for this month.

Hope you liked it and be sure to share your thoughts on it in the comments.

You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and YouTube.

Stay tuned for more news soon!

VIGE2018: 30 May – 1st of June

VIGE2018 will include 3 dedicated conferences, iGaming Knowledge Seminar, Innovation Talks Live and Millennial Gaming Forum. VIGE (Vienna International Gaming Expo) is a unique yearly event which brings together the online gaming industry from +60 countries and facilitates networking and learning. The organizers are aware of a fully packed calendar and they encourage operators and service providers of the gambling ...

The post VIGE2018: 30 May – 1st of June appeared first on Casino News Today.

Gus Hansen loses $500,000 pot from King's Casino Owner

A week after Viktor 'Isildur' Blom won the Main Event at the partypoker LIVE MILLIONS Germany Main Event for $1,048,153, the high stakes cash games continued at the King's Casino Rozvadov, Czech Republic. One of the players who decided to just immerse himself on the excitement that only juicy high stakes cash game action can bring and entirely skip all the tournament events at partypoker LIVE MILLIONS Germany is Danish poker pro Gus Hansen. He had just recently returned to his home cou[...]

Tax adjustment slashes Ainsworth fiscal H1 2018 profit

Net profit of Australia-listed slot machine supplier Ainsworth Game Technology Ltd plunged by more than 50 percent in the first half of its financial year as a result of a one-time tax adjustment.

In a regulatory filing on Tuesday, Ainsworth announced that its company’s net profit from operations in the first half of fiscal 2018 tumbled to AUD9.7 million (US$7.6 million) from AUD$20.6 million (US$16.14 million) in H1 FY17.

Ainsworth’s total revenue for the six months to December 31, 2017, dropped 2 percent to AUD120.3 million ($94.3 million) from AUD$122.7 million ($96.18 million) in the prior year period.

The company attributed the dismal financial result to the one-off adjustment of AUD8.6 million ($6.74 million) in the first half of fiscal year 2017, which reflected “the reversal of previously-recognized deferred taxes resulting from the treatment of foreign currency movements.”

Ainsworth also noted that revenue growth from international markets was offset by “a weaker domestic performance.” Ainsworth’s international revenue grew 2 percent to AUD83.2 million ($65.22 million) in H118, while its Australian market slid 10 percent to AUD37.1 million ($29.08 million).

Excluding cost of sales and financing, Ainsworth’s total operating costs fell 8.2 percent to AUD56.3 million due to lower administrative and research and development expenses.

Ainsworth Game CEO Danny Gladstone said the financial results were in line with expectations, noting that it “provides a solid base for a strong second half performance.”

The company predicts that Ainsworth’s second half profit will be “modestly ahead” of the AUD42.2 million revenue it posted in H217.

To ensure further growth in the second half, Ainsworth said it will invest in new technologies and increase its range of innovative content. The company also vowed to intensify its sales and marketing focus.

“We enter the second half with good momentum and we are making continuing progress in growing in the Americas … We expect to increase our units on participation, driving high quality earnings and strong cash flow,” Gladstone said.

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2WinPower Returns: Beware of Fake Slots

Remember 2WinPower? Members who follow LCB rogue reports know all about this infamous company. Providers of pirated software, they've been banished from the industry once before, by the joint effort of LCB and Aristocrat Gaming. Though the online community was ecstatic to see them gone and their criminal business closed, we had a feeling that wasn't the last we'll see from 2WinPower. Sure enough, they are back! Not to be confused - this is not a casino! They are a third party supplier of fake, turnkey gaming products including counterfeits of Novomatic, Net Entertainment, Realtime Gaming, EGT and Aristocrat video slots.

Considering they've shown great tenacity and fought tooth and nail to keep their piracy network alive and well, it is not at all surprising to see the company reemerging on a wholly different domain: https://2wpower.com/. We first encountered their fake games in 2016, when investigating two very suspicious casinos: BetsTower and BetMaxValue. To our dismay, we realized this was a large and complicated network involving at least one other company: Desoft Gaming. One shocking fact after another, not only was their entire offering falsified, but they advertised openly via an official website and social channels, apparently undaunted by legal repercussions for plagiarism.

Thinking themselves untouchable (and why wouldn't they, when so little has been done to prevent such frauds), they were shocked to realize they've been busted when LCB exposed their products on another client brand, Burnbet Casino, in 2017. A struggle ensued when employees and associates of 2WinPower and Desoft Gaming started pestering our team via emails and official LCB channels, in a futile attempt of damage control, resorting even to death threats. We, of course, never thought of removing any evidence of their illegal trade from our portal.

After contacting Aristocrat representatives, together we forced the piracy network to remove the falsified versions of the popular provider's software from their website in August 2017. Victory achieved! Having no genuine games of their own, we had hoped it would damage their business enough to shut down eventually.

As faith would have it, they have returned and it means we must again be very cautious not to fall for their fakes. No doubt they will instruct clients to conceal the origin of supplied slots as much as possible. Previously, it was possible to spot some of their games thanks to a loader with the 2WinPower logo, without having to inspect source codes or other details. There's no telling how this might have changed. We will keep our eyes open for any sign of the all too familiar foul play, but for now, let's stay away from the above-mentioned sites. Keep up with LCB Rogue reports for new information regarding this criminal network!

Two Baha Mar execs turfed after Colombian hooker arrests

The Baha Mar casino in the Bahamas has reportedly sacked two of its executives following the arrest of two suspected Colombian prostitutes at the integrated resort.

On Monday, the Bahamas Tribune reported that the two unnamed execs were dismissed last week on “suspicion of impropriety” following an internal investigation. The report quoted Baha Mar’s senior VP of administration and external relations Robert Sands saying the pair were fired after management became aware of “potential misconduct.”

Without directly drawing a line from one to the other, Sands also noted that the Royal Bahamas Police Force “concurrently arrested two women, who were charged with overstaying their visas.” The Colombian nationals entered the Bahamas legally on January 9 but were authorized to stay in the country for only nine days.

According to court prosecutors, Cable Beach police set up an undercover operation at Baha Mar on February 17, leading to the women being charged with visa violations three days later. Despite police suspicions, they apparently failed to gather sufficient evidence to charge the pair with solicitation.

It’s unclear if the firing of the Baha Mar execs was directly related to the suspected prostitution. But the Tribune reported that “at least two suites” at the property may have been used to ‘entertain’ VIP customers of the property’s casino.

Baha Mar reportedly informed the Bahamas Gaming Board last week that the dismissals were related to a “failure to fully disclose.” The Tribune reported that the Gaming Board had already been investigating one of the fired officials, whom a source claimed had been subject to investigation in Las Vegas for alleged mishandling of client funds.

The oft-delayed $4.2b Baha Mar held its official grand opening last November after several years of financial turmoil via the bankruptcy of its original developer. The property’s new ownership was finally confirmed last year as Hong Kong conglomerate Chow Tai Fook Enterprises.

The post Two Baha Mar execs turfed after Colombian hooker arrests appeared first on CalvinAyre.com.

Melco Looks For Cyprus Casino Resort Staff

Casino operator Melco Resorts & Entertainment and its partner Cyprus Phasouri (Zakaki) Limited have begun searching for staff for their €550-million integrated resort, currently under development in the Cypriot city of Limassol.

The developers have recently opened the first job positions for people interested to work at the first casino resort in the Republic of Cyprus. The positions available include slot attendant, dealer, gaming machine supervisor, finance, security, and information technology vacancies. It is also important to note that Melco and its local partner are currently looking for staff for the four satellite casinos in Nicosia, Larnaca, Paphos, and the Famagusta area as well as for the temporary casino in Limassol that are all set to open doors later this year.

Melco has said on the official website of City of Dreams Mediterranean that it is looking for “proactive and passionate talent” to join its team in Cyprus.

The actual resort with the main casino floor is slated to be launched in 2021 in Limassol’s Zakaki area. City of Dreams Mediterranean, as the multi-use complex will be named, will also be located near the My Mall Limassol shopping center, which is known to be the largest property of its kind in the Republic of Cyprus. As mentioned above, a temporary casino will operate in Limassol, until the main gaming floor is finished.

Jobs and Increased Tourist Activity

City of Dreams Mediterranean is expected to generate 4,000 temporary jobs each year during construction. Once fully operational, the resort would employ more than 6,500 people directly and indirectly.

According to analysts, the mixed-use complex could bring an additional of 300,000 tourists each year. Melco has also recently pointed out that it would look to attract visitors all year round and thus turn the tiny Mediterranean nation into a tourist destination that does not rely heavily on seasonality. At present, Cyprus welcomes the greatest portion of international tourists in the period between May and October.

City of Dreams Mediterranean will be the first property of its kind to open doors in this part of Europe. However, it seems that the €550-million complex could face competition from another casino resort in the region shortly after its opening.

It has recently emerged that Greek developer Lamda Development, together with a group of international developers, is planning to build an $8-billion multi-purpose integrated resort near Athens. Among a number of other facilities, the complex will also include a casino floor.

Last week, Greece’s top administrative court gave the green light to the country’s gambling regulator to launch a bidding process for operators that want to run the casino portion of the mega-resort. According to previous reports from Greek media, Las Vegas giant Caesars Entertainment Corp. has been looking to join the scheme.

The post Melco Looks For Cyprus Casino Resort Staff appeared first on Casino News Daily.

Casinos In the Spotlight: Best of 2017

After another successful year, we look back at memorable events and noteworthy brands that made us happy and proud to be part of the gaming community in 2017. Having summarized the performances of inferior casinos, along with their adverse effects in the past 12 months, it is time to move these unpleasantries aside and give credit to whom credit is due - to all the great operators who made a commendable effort to achieve and maintain high-quality services. This is not a small group, mind you. Distinguished brands were numerous and we hope their number signalizes a new direction in the growth and development of the iGaming industry, where we can show that honesty, integrity and professionalism are very much present in this unique field of entertainment.

USA Brands Going Strong

As one of LCB's oldest most reliable partners, Slotland did not disappoint, and continued in the same manner that has made many of our members happy throughout the years. Jack the rep repsresented the casino admirably, and did a fantastic job managing exclusive deals. Boasting a high 4.5 stars rating and over 270, mostly positive, player comments, what they're especially good at are bonuses: the cashback offer alone is a testament to the quality of this operator, it has been active and immensely popular since 2012!

''Slotland is one casino I have played at for years. They are very honest and a quick paying casino. Their games are their own and one of the best in my opinion. Pay out if you pay the top bid can be very high. Most games have progressive payout for top hit. Slotland large payout are a little slim compared to other top casinos. I still would suggest you try this casino. Good game and really fun.''

Sister sites Red Stag and Sloto'Cash reaffirmed strong positions in the LCB list with treats of their own. Thanks to these great brands, LCB'ers enjoy exclusive freeroll slot tournaments, playing for high prizes on the great WSG games, and a quick and efficient customer service both from the official rep and on-site support agents.

''I love Red Stag Casino. The games re fun and so are the tournaments. They have penny tournaments! The customer service staff is very friendly. I love WGS software. I love I can play at Red Stag in mobile version too.''

Held in high regard, the US-friendly Liberty Slots left a lasting impression on our members with a series of amazing tournaments, hosted every month exclusively for players from LCB. There are few WGS-powered casinos, but this former English Harbor site gives a good name to this small group.

''I love this casino along with the other handful of WGS casinos. Liberty slots has some of the best customer support team around. They have very fast payouts and it is all so simple to make deposits. I love there tournaments and how they are ran as well. This is my go to casino.''

Ignition and Casino Extreme do not need a special introduction - they are well known to American gamblers, who uniformly praise timely payments, fast and reliable support, and overal good quality services and games.

Let's see what we thought of the good old Intertops Classic, a trusted site and a highpoint of online gaming in the region and beyond:

'Intertops is by far my favorite online casino. Absolutely the quickest payout I have had from any online casino. Their live chat is 2nd to none and I have yet to wait longer than 60 seconds before I am greeted and questions answered through the live chat service. I would recommend this casino to anyone and everyone as it has been my best online casino experience by leaps and bounds''

Welcoming the Future with Bitcoin

Cryptocurrencies made a boom in the gambling industry and paved way to faster, safer and anonymous transactions, just the thing we desired. Having in mind the advantages of digital money and the possibilities this new way of banking has in our field of entertainment, casinos that have embraced Bitcoin as the most popular and globally used crytpocurrency, deserve an Honorable mention and a place on this list:

Oshi Casino Wild Tornado Bitstarz Gunsbet Joo Casino Luckystar.io

If you're looking for the best bonuses around, contemporary look and fair games, go with Oshi; interesting slot combat tournaments, wide selection of games and promotions topped off with an elaborate VIP program are among the attractive features of Wild Tornado; one of the most successful casinos operating on the SoftSwiss platform, Bitstarz stays on top as an all-around dependable site that keeps a high standard in every respect; Gunsbet is the force of innovation, continually improving the platform and its many gaming options. Lucky Star is a proud bearer of LCB Seal of Approval - this means they are more than able to compete for the best Bitcoin-friendly site of 2017. Joo Casino is on good terms with players and affiliates alike, their grand compilation of slots is a sight to see for every fan of the fast-spinning reels.

Casinos We can Count On

In the gaming world, there are good and there are bad guys, but than there are those who represent a standard. Always consistent and reliable, these operators never failed our expectations. Players are fortunate to have brands they can count on to deliver top software, fair terms of service, multiple payment options, meaningful incentives and finally, timely cash-outs to all lucky winners.

An experienced operator, Mr Green launched in 2007 and has stayed with us ever since, offering a large platform, popular bonuses and close-to-instant withdrawals to UK markets and the rest of Europe.

''Trustworthy casino, first casino where I have cashed out bigger sum. No problems ever with MrGreen.''

32 Red is a veteran of gambling, a massive website dating back to 2002, with loyal players and great ratings across the industry. Their ''trophy cabinet'' is filled with accolades awarded by eminent industry experts.

A pioneer of player-friendly tools and features automatically preventing misuse of bonuses and games, SlotsMillion is at the forefront of groundbreaking gameplay systems with Max Bet, Withdrawal Lock and Table Bet features!

''Another Casino to add to my favorites: Only really active since recent, but i must say their list of Games is simply amazing. As a veteran gambler, and one that has also worked as slot reviewer, i was amazed by the amount of Games that i still hadn't tired :) A lot of providers you'll find almost nowhere else, at least not in that volume, or together with other cool providers, and that alone makes this Casino worthwhile in my opinion. Also very good support, and great bonuses, from what i've seen. so far: there are fixed match ups on a few days of the week, or free Spins on deposit, and i've been getting a few decent offers aside from those too. I only deposited a few 100, but still received a generous comp without asking!''

Launched by the established Fortune Lounge group, Royal Vegas stands proud with certified software, multitudes of banking options, and a long history of rock-solid business moves.

Casino Adrenaline, founded in 2014, tells us loud and clear why the site should be the top choice of every aspiring punter: wins are credited fair and square, funds and data are kept safe by strong encryption protocols, support is at your disposal every minute of every day.

''I like this casino they have a wide range of games. verification is slow takes up to 72h. but when you are verified they have Fast withdrawal. Live support is helpful and overall an excellent casino. I recommend this casino.''

Retro on the outside, next-gen on the inside, Golden Euro combines best of both worlds pursuing a simple goal: customer satisfaction. Over 300 LCB'ers voted for an average rating of 4.2 stars. Support services and bonus program are deemed are considered the best among RTG powered brands.

''This is the rare case when a casino from an RTG provider is excellent! The minimum deposit is only 5 euros and the minimum withdrawal is 10 euros! I have never seen anything like this in RTG. There is a bonus without a deposit for registration of 15 euros. Excellent casino!''

Original and Inventive

Kudos to GreenZorro, a 2017 arrival daring to be different. Not everyone is comfortable with changes, but gamblers benefit when the mold is broken. Debuting a system of investment returns, allowing players to recoup losses through investing in a variety of products. Never thought we'd hear the words interest earning and gambling in the same sentence!

Best Newcomer of 2017

Stakes is new, bu they're advancing quickly beating competition left and right. First impressions count, and what we saw was a capable operator with a clear goal and the means to achieve it. Players liked the smooth performance of the platform, games, design and friendly support, but most of all the free bonus awarded on sign up! We'd like to see higher cash-out limits, but we're optimistic improvements are in the pipeline for this promising brand.

Risen out of the Shadows

Active since 2006, Superior Casino finally decided to live up to their name, making a series of noteworthy and much-needed changes to multiple aspects of the platform. LCB'ers were pleasantly surprised seeing numerous and varied bonus offers and engaging tournaments. Adding Bitcoin payments opened doors for new members, and improving the tangible aspects of customer support was among the most significant changes.

''Definitely the best place if you want frequent bonuses, new slots are getting promotions most of the time!They also do btc transactions so thats a plus.''

It's Been a Good Year!

Looks like positive events were the dominant force of 2017. Good guys were in the lead and there were very few disappointments. Big changes are in the works for legal, technological and, yes, ethical aspects of the iGaming world. These great brands are the harbingers of better times to come for our growing community!

BetterBetting announces its BETR token listing on HitBTC exchange

BetterBetting, a blockchain-based, decentralised peer-to-peer sports betting system, recently announced its eagerly awaited listing on the HitBTC exchange. HitBTC, a global trading platform with multi-currency support, has been operating as a major exchange since 2013. By trading volume, HitBTC has been consistently among the top 10 exchanges (24 hours trading volume at time of press: $431,266,065 USD). The exchange has ...

The post BetterBetting announces its BETR token listing on HitBTC exchange appeared first on Casino News Today.

Doyle Brunson admits to Missing Out on $230M Offer for Doyles Room

The 84-year-old Poker Hall of Famer says the Doyles Room poker site co-owner has 'recurring nightmares about it.' The two-time WSOP Main Event champ is pretty much doing well for himself, but his poker bankroll could have been boosted up with a nine-figure profit if only he had said 'yes' to a business offer proposed to him over a decade ago. In a reply to a Nolan Dolla article entitled "20 Years of Online Poker: Tales of Fast Money, Wicked Beats, and Broken Mice", the American poke[...]

Bitcoin and Litecoin Vouchers Added to the Shop

We have great news for all our cryptocurrency-loving members. As Bitcoin transaction fees hit an all time low in February 2018, Bitcoin voucher makes a comeback to the Shop! This time, the most popular digital form of money is not the only such item to redeem - we also added Litecoin, an alternative peer-to-peer currency sharing many of its technical features.

When the increased demand and volatility of the value of Bitcoin led to insufferably high transaction fees in 2017, we were regretfully forced to suspend the item, which was at that time among the most popular Shop perks. Back then, the network couldn't cope with the growing demand for the currency, causing fees to skyrocket, which meant the cost of sending and receiving small payments was much too high. But now that the fees are once again reaching acceptable values, the time is right to reintroduce these highly requested items.

Both vouchers function as cash items, and will be sent straight to your digital wallets. Once you have accumulated $25 by contributing to the LCB community, the chips will be available to claim and use at gaming sites that accept cryptocurrency deposits. Nowadays, there are many reputable brands with excellent software and features to choose from - take a look at our list of Bitcoin-friendly casinos and pick the one best suited to your needs.

Our Shop is a way to give back to our members for their continued loyalty and dedication to the gaming community. Your posts, comments and ratings of casinos and games result in LCB virtual cash awarded to you at a rate which depends on your current status. Every action counts and will get you closer to claiming any of the Shop's many free gifts. Good luck!

John Misirian Leads after WPT L.A. Poker Classic $10,000 Championship Day 1

The 2018 edition of the WPT L.A. Poker Classic $10,000 Championship kicked off on Saturday at Commerce Casino. As many as 475 entries registered for the prestigious tournament during its first day, but only 282 of them will progress into Day 2, which will be played later today at the host venue.

Action is scheduled to resume at noon local time and players who failed to join the field on Day 1 will be able to do that until the first break of Day 2 or around 1:45 pm local time. The tournament feature a freezeout format, which means that re-entries are not allowed.

John Misirian will be leading the start-of-the-day pack of contenders. The player assumed the chip lead at some point on Day 1 and cemented his position on the very last hand of the day by eliminating poker pro Sean Winter. Misirian bagged and tagged 234,300 worth in chips for the night.

The player comes fresh from a victory in an event that took place earlier during the ongoing LAPC poker festival. Talking with WPT staff, he said last night that that recent triumph had certainly built his confidence. Yet, he pointed out that one cannot be too confident, particularly in cases where the field is packed with poker professionals.

Feeling Comfortable When Playing with Good Players

Misirian revealed that playing with good poker players makes him feel more comfortable on the felt. The player went on to say that playing in an event that involves so many poker professionals provides opportunity to learn a lot.

According to his Hendon Mob profile, Misirian has a total of $268,377 in live tournament earnings. It can also be said that the player has mainly cashed in three-figure buy-in tournaments over the course of his career.

Day 2 of the $10,000 Championship will see the likes of Andy Frankenberger, Toby Lewis, and Richard Seymour take their seats after surviving the eight levels played on Day 1. However, former WPT Main Event champions Ryan Riess, Darren Elias, and Jared Jaffee did not make it through the day.

Registration will remain open through the first stages of Day 2, as mentioned above, which means that the field will certainly grow. Once registration closes, organizers will be able to calculate the prize pool and to announce the places paid and the first-place prize for the last player standing in the tournament.

Daniel Strelitz won the WPT LAPC Championship last year. The player bested a field of 521 entries to eventually scoop $1 million for his efforts. Streilitz entered this year’s event yesterday and survived through all eight levels to bag and tag 66,200 and secure a seat among the Day 2 participants. It is to be seen whether he will be able to win the exciting tournament for a second consecutive year. The Championship is set to be played through March 1.

The post John Misirian Leads after WPT L.A. Poker Classic $10,000 Championship Day 1 appeared first on Casino News Daily.

Fair Play Bets To Launch Slots From Microgaming

Owners of top-ranked casinos and aggregators of online gaming, Fair Play Bets, have officially announced the launch of Microgaming’s suite of slots via the renowned Quickfire platform. The company’s two most reputable betting sites, VegasPlay and DiamondWorldCasino will ramp-up their offerings with award-winning titles and popular releases like Jungle Jim El Dorado, Jurassic World, Bridesmaids, Playboy and more.

By boasting impeccable player experience and unrivalled gaming performance, the Quickfire platform has secured a strong reputation in the industry, particularly in regulated gambling markets UK and Malta. Due to a large number of prestigious awards for innovation and technology, many operators opt for extensive game offerings from this genuine supplier of engaging bingo, poker and casino software. Popular releases from Microgaming are a proven strategy, as they provide a lot of entertainment to players, says Andrew Clucas, director of Quickfire.

The company has announced a stronger engagement on the slot market and confirmed partnerships with new, independent studios. At the same time, an array of exclusive titles has been revealed at ICE a couple of weeks back, when visitors had a chance to see stunning presentations of Fortunium and Cash of Kingdoms. Jeremy Fall, head of marketing at Fair Play Bets welcomed the agreement and said that the group’s offerings are now multiply enhanced, thanks to a range of smart promotional tools with exciting features and innovative mechanics.

In 2018, Fair Play Bets will continue its expansion strategy with a number of leading casino operators, added Malcolm Ferrante, director. Partnering with Microgaming is one of the most important decisions for the group, as further developments are coming very soon, added Ferrante.

Source:

“Following ICE Fair Play Bets agreement created stronger entertainment destinations with Quickfire, powered by Microgaming“, microgaming.co.uk, February 22, 2018.

Fair Play Bets signs agreement with Microgaming

Following ICE, Fair Play Bets’ agreement creates stronger entertainment destinations with Quickfire, powered by Microgaming. Fair Play Bets, operator of multiple reputable online casinos, has ramped-up its world-class offering on its VegasPlay.com and DiamondWorldCasino.com casinos by launching the Microgaming portfolio of games via the Quickfire platform. This new agreement underlies Fair Play Bets commitment to offering the most entertaining casino ...

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A Casino Could Secure Convention Center for Sunshine Coast, City Council Believes

The possibility for the addition of a casino as part of the Maroochydore Central Business District development project is still being discussed by the Sunshine Coast Council, despite recent comments by Mayor Mark Jamieson that a facility of this type was not on their agenda at the time.

In a letter to the editor of local news outlet the Sunshine Coast Daily, City Councilor John Connolly said that the Council still believes a project, including a casino, under Queensland’s Integrated Tourism Development program was the right path to “securing a regional convention centre”.

Cr Connolly went on to say that the Sunshine Coast Council does not have the means to build a convention and exhibition center as soon as it might wish and that they have to consider different ways to fund a project of this kind.

Local media reported earlier this week that the Queensland Government has confirmed it had promoted a visit by Malaysian casino company NagaCorp to Sunshine Coast. The visit took place last fall. Reportedly, NagaCorp executives and an architect, who had previously worked on the company’s existing casino resort in Cambodia, met the Sunshine Coast Mayor to discuss opportunities for a future partnership.

State Tourism Development Minister Kate Jones said earlier that the meeting taking place did not necessarily mean that a casino would be included in the Maroochydore CBD development project.

Boost to Local Tourism

In his letter, Cr Connolly wrote that Sunshine Coast does not have a large convention center that is paid for by the government, unlike other regions around the state. According to the City Councilor, a project that would include a gaming floor as well as different non-gaming facilities could significantly help the city fulfill its plan for a convention and exhibition venue.

He went on to say in his letter that the Maroochydore CBD development, if it includes attractive enough offering, would boost the region’s construction sector significantly and would then boost the region’s and the state’s tourism sector. The official also pointed out that the city should not rule out that quickly the opportunities that a casino could create.

The Queensland Government has not confirmed that the addition of a casino to the Sunshine Coast development project has been debated. On the other hand, Minister Jones has confirmed that she would visit the Sunshine Coast in March to discuss tourism opportunities with Mayor Jamieson.

Federal and state MPs have fired at the Sunshine Coast Mayor for his failure to end the casino debate once and for all by ruling out the construction of a gambling venue in the city. Mr. Jamieson said earlier this week that the decision about a casino is not within his or the City Council’s power and that such a decision can only be made by the state government.

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BankrollMob News - Poker / Casino / Betting

We at BankrollMob are really excited about the upcoming $10 million GTD KO Series at partypoker! In fact, we are so thrilled about it that we earlier this week decided to surprise one of our loyal "Mobsters" with free entry to the $215 buy-in $1,000,000 Guaranteed Championship Event on Sunday, February 25th at 20:00. Besides being a loyal member of BankrollMob since October 2014, Nikola Minovic is an active player at partypoker under the alias "StheP1973". He started his journey at partypoker [...]

Greece to launch casino tender for €8b Hellinikon resort project

Greece is pressing forward with plans to get into the integrated resort casino business, motivated by the government’s need to ensure its international lenders keep the cash coming.

On Thursday, the Council of State, Greece’s top administrative court, approved the development plan for a major integrated resort project on the site of Athens’ former Hellinikon airport. The decision was then published in the official Government Gazette to ensure that foreign lenders wouldn’t miss the message.

Greece’s international bailout agreement calls for the government to receive another €5.7b tranche in March, on the condition that the government follows through on promised economic reforms, including the privatization of the Hellinikon project.

In Thursday’s Council of State ruling, the judges dismissed concerns that the project’s proposed high-rises violated local planning regulations, declaring that such deviations from the norm “are justified in serving the purpose of the public interest.”

In 2014, the Greek government authorized a 99-year lease for 620 hectares of land at the airport for an international consortium that includes local developer Lamda, China’s Fosun Group, which operates the Club Med tourism business, and Abu Dhabi-based developer Eagle Hills Properties.

The consortium planned an €8b integrated resort that would include a casino, high-rise hotels, luxury residences and a marina at which well-heeled gamblers could park their yachts. But Greece’s habitual legislative inertia and tangled economy have plagued the project from the start.

The consortium claims the project will, once fully developed, boost the country’s gross domestic product by a not-insignificant 2.4% by drawing in a projected 1m new tourists to the region per year.

Greece approved new casino legislation last month and Reuters reported that the government would soon hire an advisor to oversee a tender for a new casino license for the Hellinikon project.

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Sloto Magazine Spring Issue On Its Way

Being a Sloto Cash Casino punter may be rewarding in many ways – and one of those ways is that you get to enjoy their official quarterly publication – Sloto Magazine! All of the players registered with them and who make a deposit within a semester will be receiving the issue by mail, for free.

Anyhow, it's a very informative magazine that focuses on the experience and benefits of being a member at the casino. As such, it contains a plethora of bonuses, new games, current and future promotions and other novelties related to the iGaming industry. The spring issue is on its way to casino's players and it will include a calendar of bonus promotions and bonus coupons valid in March, April and May.

Within the pages, you will also find game reviews, with Realtime Gaming's Viking-themed Asgard slot featured. The casino’s updated Android app is also reviewed for your reading pleasure.

This spring, several featured slot games are giving away Double Comp Points – in the issue, you will find out which ones. Another article will reveal the highest RPTs per game in recent times, while the magazine's Lifestyle feature is looking at new apps whose key purpose is to enhance people's wellbeing. Finally, there is a detailed schedule for all slot tournaments that will take place during the season as well as a Horoscope section for all players who are looking at zodiacal harbingers to guide them through their gambling day.

Don’t miss the Trivia Contest, which lets players win a $33 coupon.

Casino Manager, Stephen Vaughn, comments: “This issue marks the second anniversary of our player magazine. I imagine most players go straight to the Bonus Coupons and Bonus Calendar, but I there’s lots more in this issue to help them enjoy their games – and their lives – more!”

Tyler Groth Wins WSOP Circuit Rio Las Vegas $365 Pot-Limit Omaha

Last summer, Tyler Groth captured his first WSOP gold bracelet for winning a $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha event at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Last night, the player captured his first WSOP Circuit gold ring for winning another Pot-Limit Omaha event, a $365 buy-in one, at the very same casino.

Groth defeated a field of 153 entries over two days of play to win the tournament, the precious gold ring, and the amount of $12,850 in prize money.

Winning two Pot-Limit Omaha events, one of which on the schedule of the legendary WSOP, it very much seems that Groth is a Pot-Limit Omaha specialist. However, the player himself does not think so. He believes that Omaha 8 is the game he actually excels in. After last night’s triumph, Groth told WSOP staff that he has not played Pot-Limit Omaha that much to realize how good he might be in the four-card game.

Two years ago, the player quit his daily job to pursue a career in poker. He moved to Las Vegas and has been playing both cash games and tournament poker at local casinos since then. Groth said that as of lately, he has been more active on the tournament scene. It is also important to note that online poker has been a long-time love of his. He even pointed out last night that he has built the greater portion of his poker bankroll namely online.

The player also said that even though he is planning to go to Los Angeles and participate in the LAPC Main Event, set to take place over the weekend, he might go back to Vegas to join the field of the first ever WSOP Online Circuit event. The online gold ring event is scheduled for February 27.

Groth’s Performance in the $365 Pot-Limit Omaha

As mentioned above, the tournament was played over two days and as part of the WSOP Circuit’s Rio stop. The final day of the event took place on Thursday with nine players left to sit at the final table when cards were thrown in the air.

Groth was the chip leader at that point with significant advantage over his remaining opponents. The eventual winner had nearly 600,000 in chips and was well ahead of his fellow player ranking second in the chip counts chart. That player was Andrew Dennis who had a total of 200,000 at the time.

Groth maintained his lead throughout the day to eventually scoop the title and the first-place prize. He faced Benjamin Thomas heads-up as his final challenge before the sweet victory. Thomas, a WSOP Circuit regular from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, collected $7,944 for his runner-up finish in the Pot-Limit Omaha tournament.

The event attracted 153 entries who generated a prize pool of $45,900. The top 16 finishers received a share of the money.

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William Hill Fined £6.2M For Violating Law

This week's cautionary tale for the operators who take things too lightly comes from the good ol’ UK, where even the biggest of names get slapped on the wrist for not playing by the book.

One of the world's leading gambling brands, William Hill, made a few severe omissions that will cost them dearly - £6,2 million is the value of the fine determined by the UK Gambling Commission! The supplier will have to pay for breaching the rules catering for social responsibility and money laundering.

The UKGC revealed that, between November 2014 and August 2016, William Hill's upper management committed a series of violations leading to the breach of social responsibility and money laundering regulations. Part of the reason why this occurred, according to UKGC, is because William Hill did not appoint enough staff members who would monitor the proceedings of regulations in an effective manner. As a result, ten different players deposited money linked with criminal offences which generated a £1.2 million revenue for the operator who did not look for the source of the money – a fatal mistake!

One client- who lives in a rented flat earning £30,000 per year in the accounts department - deposited £654,000 over a period of nine months. Another one, who is accused for stealing from their employer, deposited £541,000 over 14 months. In both instances, William Hill management didn't carry out any checks.

For violating this regulation, the brand will need to return the £1.2 million they earned and pay the additional fine of £5 million.

Neil McArthur, UKGC's Executive Director, commented this breaching of the rules: “We will use the full range of our enforcement powers to make gambling fairer and safer. This was a systemic failing at William Hill which went on for nearly two years and today's penalty package - which could exceed £6.2m - reflects the seriousness of the breaches. Gambling businesses have a responsibility to ensure that they keep crime out of gambling and tackle problem gambling - and as part of that they must be constantly curious about where the money they are taking is coming from.”

Source:

“William Hill to pay £6.2m penalty package for systemic social responsibility and money laundering failures”, gamblingcommission.gov.uk, February 20, 2018.

Macau casinos ponder meaning of China’s transit visa price hike

Macau enjoyed a healthy year-on-year bump in visitors during the Lunar New Year festivities but analysts are fretting over a sudden and significant rise in the price of transit visas on the Chinese mainland.

The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) announced Thursday that over 963k visitors traveled to Macau during the weeklong Lunar New Year celebration that spanned February 15-21, up 6.5% from the number who visited during the 2017 event.

The final figure is below the 10% year-on-year rise Macau witnessed over the holiday’s first four days, as the daily average peaked at 185.5k on February 18. The second last day of the holiday saw annual growth fall to 2.8%, while the final day’s figure was 1.4% below the final day of the 2017 event.

The MGTO’s standard caveat is that there’s no direct link between visitation and casino revenue, in part because many VIP and premium mass gamblers give Macau a wide berth during the holiday to avoid the teeming masses of tourists.

Sanford C. Bernstein analysts suggest the average daily gaming revenue over the first 19 days of February was down 16% from the same period in January. Should the casinos performance prove to be weaker than expected for the remainder of the month, the final revenue figure could fail to match February 2017’s total, which would snap Macau’s 18-month streak of year-on-year monthly revenue gains.

NOW HOW MUCH WOULD YOU PAY?
New Year’s travelers from the Chinese mainland totaled 716k, up 12.3% year-on-year and accounting for 74.3% of total visitation. So you can understand casino operators’ concern after word spread that the main border crossing from the mainland just announced a nearly sevenfold hike in the price of Macau transit visas.

On Wednesday, Portuguese-language media outlet Ponto Final reported that the customs office in Zhuhai in Guangdong province had abruptly hiked the transit visa cost from RMB50 (US$7.88) to RMB340 ($53.55). The price hike, which was reportedly due to a “policy change” by mainland authorities, took place last Sunday.

The visas in question are issued to mainland travelers who are transiting through Macau airports on their way to an international destination. But since the visas allow the bearer to spend up to a week in Macau before taking that international flight, they have been used to circumvent other rules limiting mainland residents’ trips to Macau to twice per year.

Mainland travel agents assisted in this subterfuge by agreeing to book air travel to international cities through Macau for a nominal fee, then cancelling the flight later without penalty. Studies from a few years ago indicated very few transit visa holders actually went on to visit their supposed international destination.

Ponto Final asked both Chinese and Macau officials whether the price hike reflected a desire to rein in the number of transit visas issued to mainland residents but received no answer.

The authorities in Beijing have historically taken steps to rein in Macau’s rapid-fire growth. In early 2014, when Macau’s casino market was at its all-time peak, Beijing launched a crackdown on corruption that ultimately led to Macau’s 26-month streak of monthly gaming revenue declines.

Macau has yet to regain those lofty 2014 heights, but the market has been on a prolonged hot streak. Perhaps Beijing is choosing to act now, before things get out of hand, using less severe methods, in the hope of achieving a more tempered growth. Or not.

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Saipan gaming regulators insist they’re not corrupt

Saipan casino regulators have publicly refuted recent media allegations of corruption, calling them “exaggerated, uncalled for and very unfair.”

On Thursday, gaming regulators in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) went public with their belief that they had been ill-treated by last week’s Bloomberg article alleging millions of dollars in sketchy payments to CNMI officials from Saipan’s lone casino operator, Imperial Pacific International Holdings (IPI).

IPI announced this week that it is suing Bloomberg for defamation. On Thursday, the Marianas Variety quoted Commonwealth Casino Commission (CCC) exec director Edward Deleon Guerrero saying the regulator was “looking at the article” and would “consult with our legal counsel” regarding the appropriate response.

The Marianas Variety also reported that the CCC held a meeting on Thursday at which chair Juan Sablan declared “no one here has received anything of value from IPI,” while urging the public to come forward with any evidence of regulatory malfeasance “as we don’t tolerate such actions.”

Vice-chair Joseph Reyes acknowledged that the CCC was a relatively inexperienced group but insisted that they were quick learners who were now “doing a great job.” Reyes challenged the Bloomberg scribe “to prove his accusations” because “none of us here are corrupt and I am not corrupt.”

Some of the Bloomberg allegations involved payments made by IPI to members of the family of Saipan Gov. Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres, whose uncle is CCC director Edward Deleon Guerrero. Guerrero said it was misleading to say his family has “a financial stake in IPI’s success,” because “everyone does, all agencies do … and it’s reasonable to expect that all CNMI residents” stand to benefit from IPI’s success.

WE’RE HONEST, EVERYONE ELSE IS LYING
Deleon Guererro also revealed the written responses the CCC had provided Bloomberg prior to the article’s publication. When Bloomberg questioned the veracity of the astronomical monthly VIP turnover figures IPI used to report before it got publicity shy, the CCC insisted that “the numbers being reported are true” and had been verified by the CCC’s Audit and Compliance division.

The CCC also told Bloomberg that the huge VIP turnover figures were the result of the CNMI’s “low tax structure” that “dis-incentivizes the tax avoidance schemes believed to be prevalent elsewhere which keep reported volumes lower than actual.” The CCC also pointed out that IPI’s ownership “stems from one of the largest junkets in Macau,” giving it “a very strong network in the VIP market.”

(On a related note, Deleon Guererro also said Thursday that the CCC was still investigating junket operators seeking Saipan licenses. Deleon Guererro said the CCC was “looking at the junket process very meticulously” and was consulting with authorities in Las Vegas “to look at the background of these junket applicants.”)

FBI BEEFS UP SAIPAN PRESENCE
It could be a coincidence, but the Guam Daily Post reported that Joseph Strantz, the FBI’s supervisory resident agent in the CNMI, acknowledged this week that the Bureau had recently increased its number of local agents.

“We are now fully staffed,” Strantz told the Rotary Club of Guam, adding that “we’ve had a lot of attention out here with some of our cases.” Asked about the Bloomberg article, Strantz declined to comment as to whether the FBI was probing IPI’s activities, but did say that combatting public corruption “serves a very important function in Guam and in Saipan.”

Bloomberg had previously reported that US financial watchdogs were probing allegations of impropriety at IPI’s temporary casino Best Sunshine Live. In 2017, the FBI conducted an investigation of the main contractor building IPI’s permanent gaming venue, the Imperial Pacific Resort.

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Microgaming & Casino de Barcelona Sign Content Deal

Online gaming division of Casino de Barcelona has confirmed a recent content supply agreement with Prima Networks, whose diverse portfolio of quality games is powered by Microgaming and its award-winning platform, Quickfire. Prima is incorporated in Malta and provides services to operators in regulated markets including Italy, Denmark, Belgium and Spain. The new deal will increase the venue’s collection of premium slots, including titles like Dragonz, Game of Thrones, Immortal Romance and others.

Director of Casino Barcelona Online, Xavier Ballester, emphasized the significance of the strategic agreement with Microgaming, since the casino has always invested a lot of effort in product expansion. Thanks to a more complete selection of top-quality games from the industry’s leaders and reputable providers of sophisticated technology solutions, the deluxe online betting venue will create unrivalled casino offerings and an enhanced experience for players.

Over at Microgaming, officials are delighted that a new flagship operator in the Spanish market has sealed a profitable software license agreement with the company, since Casinos Grup Peralada now belongs to a growing list of renowned operators with high-end features from Quickfire. The entire portfolio will be available on the casino’s redesigned website, casino-barcelona.com, which already grants access to a top-performing slots collection, added Andrew Clucas, Director of Quickfire.

Apart from the developer’s slots, players will also be able to enjoy live roulette and other table games such as blackjack or poker. Casino de Barcelona is one of the most prestigious gaming venues in Europe and it holds the Internet Game License of the Spanish Government. Its owner, Grup Peralada, has operated more than 35 years in Argentina, Uruguay and Chile.

Source:

“Casino Barcelona Online signs a software license agreement for Microgaming content through Prima Networks”, microgaming.co.uk, February 20, 2018.

Sihanoukville casino boom draws mixed reactions in Cambodia

Sihanoukville’s transformation into Cambodia’s tourism and gambling is both a blessing and a curse.

Cambodia’s coastal province has seen a dramatic rise in the number of tourists that new rooms are needed to accommodate the influx of local and foreign visitors in the area.

Khmer Times reported that the Sihanoukville hotel sector will be opening 1,000 new rooms and 10 new hotels this year because the current 10,000 hotel and guesthouse rooms could no longer accommodate the tide of tourists in the area.

Data showed that Sihanoukville welcomed 1 million local tourists and 470,000 foreign visitors in 2017. An estimated 120,000 Chinese visited Sihanoukville last year to gamble in the coastal province’s 10 casinos, twice the number recorded in 2016.

Local officials expect that the number of tourists in Sihanoukville will dramatically rise in the coming years as they anticipate the opening of more casinos. Currently, the area hosts 10 casinos, including the Oriental Pearl and the New Macau.

“To meet demand, investors have been investing in budget, mid-range and luxury hotels in 20 different locations,” Sihanoukville’s Tourism Department Director Taing Sochetkrisna said, according to the news outlet.

While the government rejoice the vibrant tourism numbers, Sihanoukville residents are dismayed with the flood of Chinese tourists in the area.

The Financial Times reported that Cambodians are upset that many Chinese are taking over their jobs at a time when employment is scarce. Locals also have to deal with rising property prices and rowdy Chinese visitors, according to the report.

While they welcome any investment beyond casinos and hotels in Sihanoukville, Sochetkrisna pointed out that they “need more local people to have a chance to work, to get more money from this growth.”

The Cambodian ministry has already sent a task force in Sihanoukville to observe the Chinese law breakers.

Recently, Chinese envoy Xiong Bo held a rare press conference after a confidential document, which listed the positive and negative impacts of Chinese money and people, leaked out of the Sihanoukville governor’s office. Bo recognized that there are “low-educated people” from their country who are breaking local laws.

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