2018 Triton Poker SHR HK$1M Short Deck NLHE won by Kenneth Kee for $2,925,000

Kenneth Kee came so close in taking down the first event of the 2018 Triton Poker High Roller Series Jeju on July 25, and he only finished as runner-up when he lost in a heads-up match against Nick Schulman in the HK$100,000 short-deck NLHE event. However, Kee didn't lose hope, because a week later he found himself in the same spot again, this time against Cary Katz at the HK$1,000,000 Short Deck NLHE event, and this one was truly meant for him as he won to take home the colossal first-place c[...]

Realistic Games Introduce First 3D Roulette

Renowned aggregator of premium casino gaming, Realistic Games, has finished the development of its very first 3D table game!

Realistic Roulette will debut in all partner casinos such as Videoslots and Bet365, delivering a live environment and cutting-edge technology. The software will also be available on mobile, desktop and tablet with unparalleled accuracy and traits.

The group recently launched slots, Clockwork Mice, Slot It In! and Black Ice, but promised a true revolution in the table games vertical. According to the commercial director, the latest release will give players an experience like no other due to the effects of an immersive gameplay with real-world ball spins.

Innovative 3D Technology

By using the latest technology achievements such as WebGL, Realistic has reached the next level in development, which allows all players to tilt, pan and change the view of the game. To get the best possible experience, table game enthusiasts will use real life ball spins in an authentic environment, optimized for the younger generation.

The game includes numerous camera options, product updates, La Partage rule and unrivalled clarity...

It supports all major browsers, and it also can be played in two languages – English and Chinese. The RTP is set between 97.30% and 98.65% whereby the maximum payout is entirely configurable.

Quality Product With Engaging Features

Commercial director at Realistic, Robert Lee, is convinced of the instant success of 3D Roulette thanks to the product’s quality characteristics and innovative mechanics.

A high-end table game with supreme graphics, sound effects and animations is truly a unique addition to the market and partners from various divisions are going to merge an important part to their libraries, added Lee.

Caesars races to cash in on NJ, Mississippi sports betting market

Casino operator Caesars Entertainment Corp. (CEC) officially joined its rivals in the sports betting market derby, right on the heels of one Atlantic City casino that has started taking sports bets this week.

Bally’s Wild Wild West have started accepting sports bets on Monday morning, while its sister casino Harrah’s Resort will open its doors to punters on Wednesday, according to CEC. This makes the twin gambling facilities the third and fourth casinos to offer sports betting in Atlantic City.

Bally’s temporary sportsbook operation inside Wild Wild West reportedly has 30 leather chairs placed right in front of three large television screens and five smaller screens. Bally’s has converted its shuttered cashier windows to sports wagering windows. Harrah’s sports wagering space looks quite similar to Bally’s, although Harrah’s only has 28 leather chairs, six high-top tables and five screens for viewing.

CEC also plans to bring sports betting in Mississippi by mid-August through its casino properties, Horseshoe Tunica and Harrah’s Gulf Coast resorts.

The casino operator’s announcement came a day after its rival MGM declared it will create a $200 million sports betting and online gaming joint venture with UK-based GVC Holdings, one of the world’s largest bookmakers.

CEC has tapped gambling technology provider Scientific Games Corporation (Sci Games) to provide its OpenBet sportsbook platform in New Jersey and Mississippi. CEC President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Frissora described its partnership with Sci Games to be strategic since the casino operator also plans to roll out mobile sports betting throughout New Jersey and Mississippi.

Frissora pointed out that the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to repeal the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 allows CEC to expand its “sports betting digital and mobile offerings into new markets.”

One of the advantages that CEC have against its rivals in Atlantic City is its experience operating sportsbooks in Las Vegas, according to Frissora.

“We recognize that our customers expect exciting new experiences, which is why we will continue to offer new products through our mobile and digital platforms and inside our properties,” Frissora said in a statement.

The post Caesars races to cash in on NJ, Mississippi sports betting market appeared first on CalvinAyre.com.

LCB Sister Sites Blacklist the infamous Affiliate Edge

Great news for LCB'ers - especially fellow US players!

What happened?

Remember the CWC/Affiliate Edge controversy over covertly shaving players from affiliate accounts?

Guess what! The notorious group has been officially BLACKLISTED by our sister sites too.

WorldCasinoDirectory.com and KeyToCasino.com joined the ranks of gaming portals...

...who will not support the shady business of this infamous operator and their affiliate program.

Here's the gist

Formerly a respected RTG brand and a very popular affiliate, Affiliate Edge suffered some internal management conflicts in 2016.

The most experienced of the owners was forced to leave...

...and that's when the problems started.

Their partners noticed revenue loss. It was sudden and seemingly inexplicable.

...and discovered Affiliate Edge was de-tagging them to cut the commission they owned to honest partners.

Making their findings public - it was the nail in the coffin to an already sinking company.

They lost all integrity - the virtue of every respectable iGaming brand.

Strange, isn't it?

To see an already successful company squander everything they've built and gone down the rogue path...

We have to ask ourselves why?

Well...it seems they've made a huge mistake - asking the wrong company for advice.

Rumor has it their new 'expert' advisor is (brace yourselves):

None other than the infamous Affpower!

Unrepentant distributor of pirated software...

Unethical thief of rightly earned winnings...

Hacking websites and flooding them with their own adds without permission...

You name it- they've surely done it!

Remember

Quite a number of RTG online casinos still operates under CWC label - all part of Affiliate Edge program.

Here are a few venues listed at LCB with the Warning sign:

High Noon Aladdin's Gold Lucky Red Manhattan Slots All Star Slots Club SA Buzzluck

Though American gamers, left without much choice, played at these venues without too many issues...

...we urge you not to support brands that cheat partners - effectively stealing their hard-earned revenue!

If they can do it to affiliate clients...

What makes you think players won't be the next victims of their greed?

Judge Dismisses �Matt Kirk versus Leon Tsoukernik' Poker Lawsuit

The epic lawsuit between two poker pros that started since May 2017 has now finally come to an end, and the final verdict possibly does not bode well for one of them. Based on court documents filed in Clark County District Court at the end of June 2018, a judge had "dismissed with prejudice the entire case" between Aussie poker pro Matt Kirk and Czech casino owner Leon Tsoukernik. District Court Judge Linda Marie Bell wrote, "Having come before the court by stipulation of the parties, the cour[...]

Kambi Expands Contract With Mr Green

Renowned providers of sports betting services to licensed B2C gaming operators, Kambi Group, have pinned a contract extension with one of the busiest gaming platforms of today – Mr Green.

The deal includes integration of the sportsbook into recently purchased Redbet – a well-rated betting brand with products such as live casino, poker and sports.

The partnership between the two companies was formed in 2016, posterior to the launch of a Kambi-powered sportsbook. The multi-year agreement now includes an enhanced provision of services, thusly increasing the group’s revenue stream per annum.

A Vital Supply Shift

Switching its current sportsbook provider in favor of Kambi is Redbet’s next tactical and technical move, expected to be fully completed in Q3 2018. Kristian Nylen, CEO at the company confirmed in an interview that the extension of the contract with Mr Green in terms of offerings will make the network even more compelling, leaving other suppliers one step behind.

The operator is quite successful in managing various technologies, as well as developing exquisite betting experiences thanks to its unique promotional campaigns, products and sensational up-to-date deals. CEO at MRG, Jesper Karrbrink, added that forming new partnerships and strengthening current ones represents a successful strategic path which allows a lot of freedom and control.

Increased Betting Efficiency

Karrbrink said that each contract renewal is an opportunity to further improve the platform, allowing all players greater betting efficiency and user experience. By merging Redbet’s unique line of products with sportsbook operations from Kambi, punters will be able to indulge in benefits of the two leading brands.

There is an entire portfolio of customers beside Mr Green that have committed to the supplier, including 888 Holdings, LeoVegas, Kindred Group and others.

Each deal was signed for a period of at least 12 months, ensuring Kambi a chance to set further foundations for an even stronger platform as well as future growth and plans.

Source:

“Kambi signs expanded contract with Mr Green”, kambi.com, July 17, 2018.

Poker Buddies Antonio Esfandiari and Kevin Hart to Meet in the Boxing Ring

After some clashes at the poker table, poker pro Antonio Esfandiari and popular comedian turned avid poker player Kevin Hart are set to storm the boxing ring, Esfandiari himself told a TMZ Sports reporter over the weekend.

Delighted to be recognized by paps and asked about “some real juice”, Esfandiari said that he and Hart played poker the other day and “somehow boxing [came] up.” The two made a bet and agreed to step into the boxing ring to test their strength and will. The boxing match will take place “in March, around March,” Esfandiari told the TMZ reporter.

The poker pro refused to unveil how much money was on the line, but given both his and Hart’s estimated net worth, it should be expected that they have made quite a hefty bet.

Esfandiari further said that he is getting 35-1 odds in the upcoming bout, because his opponent is “in much better shape, he’s an athlete, he’s fast as hell”. However, at nearly 6 feet tall, the Magician, as Esfandiari is also known in the poker community, he has an important height/reach advantage. Hart stands at around 5’4″.

Esfandiari and Hart’s Careers

With three gold bracelets from the World Series of Poker and two WPT Main Tour titles, Esfandiari is one of the big stars of global poker. The player boasts live tournament earnings of over $27.6 million. That amount includes his first-place prize of $18,346,673 for taking down the 2012 $1,000,000 BIG One for ONE DROP and outlasting some of the world’s most seasoned pros, including heads-up opponent England’s Sam Trickett.

It is also interesting to note that he had been a professional magician before he started playing poker for a living, hence his nickname The Magician.

As for Kevin Hart, while he cannot boast with as many poker accomplishments as Esfandiari, he is one of the world’s most successful and praised comedians in the world. With estimated net worth of around $58 million, Hart ranks 39th in the Forbes 2018 Celebrity 100 Earnings list. His The Irresponsible Tour has been the biggest comedy tour so far this year with 1 million tickets sold, from which Hart grossed over $30 million.

Earlier this year, Hart became a brand ambassador for online poker room PokerStars, following his multiple appearances in different poker tournaments in 2017 and this year. The comedian and the globally popular poker brand said that they hope their partnership will change the face of poker.

Esfandiari and Hart excel in their respective fields, but it is to be seen who will emerge victorious in their upcoming boxing match. This will not be the first time poker players are clashing in the ring. Bouts have taken place between Bertrand Grospellier and Lex Veldhuis as well as between Brian Rast and Sorel Mizzi in the past few years.

The post Poker Buddies Antonio Esfandiari and Kevin Hart to Meet in the Boxing Ring appeared first on Casino News Daily.

Quickspin launched Eastern Emeralds slot

Quickspin introduces its latest game release: Eastern Emeralds slot. The 1680x bet win multiplier available in Eastern Emeralds slot will give players the chance to choose from a range of different free spin options. Those with fewer spins will carry a higher risk, but equally have the potential for a higher win. Eastern Emeralds slot offers a design set in ...

The post Quickspin launched Eastern Emeralds slot appeared first on Casino News Today.

US casino’s app allows real-money gambling from anywhere, but with a catch

A casino in Auburn, Washington, has taken an innovative approach to increase its customer base and bring the action to the client. The Muckleshoot Casino, in conjunction with Playport Gaming Systems, is launching a new app that allows gamblers to purchase games and place bets with real money from anywhere. While it sounds like it would be an enticing and viable solution to virtually anyone, there is one catch that might make things a little complicated—to play or collect winnings, the gambler must conduct the transactions while physically at the casino.

The casino will offer real-money games such as Bingo and others that aren’t played against the house. There are already a number of similar apps out there, but this is the first that requires a gambler to be present at the casino to deposit or to cash out. It is certainly a little more than inconvenient; not many would want to fly to Washington state just to make a deposit or cash out $300 in winnings.

Playport already has similar operations in Mexico. This will be its first casino-integrated operation in the United States, and the company notes that the games will be available directly from Playport’s point-of-sale and loyalty platforms.

Muckleshoot Casino is owned and operated by the Muckleshoot Indian tribe. As such, it isn’t subject to state laws. This is a bonus win for the casino, since a number of companies in Washington are currently facing lawsuits over casino-style games. Those companies, while not offering real-money gambling, are said to be in violation of Washington gambling laws, said to be some of the tightest laws in the country.

The games to be offered by Muckleshoot are classified as “Class II” gambling activities under federal U.S. law. These activities are only regulated by federal and tribal authorities, not by the state, allowing Muckleshoot a greater amount of leeway in providing the games.

Playport uses proprietary technology to provide a real-money gambling solution for casinos and lottery retailers. Through strategic partnerships with a number of partners, the company now operates in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Playport has begun a push in the U.S., in particular with tribal casinos, and is a member of the National Indian Gaming Association.

The post US casino’s app allows real-money gambling from anywhere, but with a catch appeared first on CalvinAyre.com.

Ireland’s Revenue Declares War on Dublin’s Illegal Casinos

Ireland’s Revenue has issued enforcement letters to a number of illegally operating casino facilities across Dublin giving them 21 days to remove gambling machines from their premises, The Times reported earlier this week.

News about the government agency launching a crackdown against illegal operations arrived after an investigation by The Times showed that a number of Dublin-based arcades have used their licenses to operate gambling machines, thus breaching a 1988 citywide ban on the latter devices.

Under the long-standing prohibition, no licenses for gambling machines can be issued to facilities located within city limits. However, The Times reported last month that a number of arcade facilities are violating that ban and are using their arcade machine licenses to operate gambling machines.

According to Revenue definitions, arcade/amusement machines are games that gives players the chance to win no more than an opportunity to play again or a non-monetary prize the value of which is worth no more than €7. The Times found that the gambling machines at some of the arcade premises across Dublin offered players the opportunity to wager up to €2,500 on casino-style games such as video poker, roulette, and blackjack. Such premises now have 21 days to remove all gambling machines or face seizure of those.

Industry Responds to the Looming Crackdown

The Irish Amusement Trades Association (IATA), which represents both licensed and unlicensed arcades, has responded quickly to the pending crackdown, saying that it was considering legal actions against Revenue’s ruling. The association has long been lobbying for the ban on casino-style gambling in Dublin to be lifted.

IATA General Secretary John Roche has previously said that Ireland’s current gambling laws are archaic and are violating directives of the European Union in relation to the provision of gambling services across member states. Ireland’s gambling industry is regulated under the Gaming and Lotteries Act which took effect back in 1956.

Irish lawmakers have been working for years on a piece of legislation that would replace the obsolete regulations, but not much progress has been made so far.

A Revenue spokeswoman has told The Times than any operator of gambling machines without the necessary license or using an arcades license to operate gambling machines would have their machines seized and would be prosecuted. IATA maintains that they can face down the taxman in court and even win, citing recent European Court of Justice rulings, under which any laws restricting gambling to certain areas in a given country should be reviewed if they are applied properly.

According to a 2015 study by Gaming and Leisure Association Ireland the issuance of arcade licenses is cheaper than of gambling machine ones and by favoring the former, the country is thus losing revenue. The study also said that of all 7,559 arcade licenses issued, around 5,000 were actually used for gambling machines that offered cash prizes.

The post Ireland’s Revenue Declares War on Dublin’s Illegal Casinos appeared first on Casino News Daily.

Nolimit City Launches Hot Nudge Slot

One rarely sees such a frantic flurry of business activity such as the one demonstrated by the major casino software supplier based in Stockholm and Malta, Nolimit City. The platform and tech solution prodigy has been having one heck of a spring/summer period.

As they continue to come up with various new partnerships and gaming titles, let us remind you that the company released its latest addition, Coins of Fortune, and has agreed upon a deal that will see them begin delivering games to one Mr Green Casino.

Wink-Wink, Nudge-Nudge

But before we go on refreshing your memory with all of the good stuff they've done recently, let's take a look at the brand-new slot sensation, Hot Nudge. The game, which is already live with operators, is a total norm-breaker and bears a certain uniqueness.

This is a 5x4, 40-payline slot game that pays tribute to the classic Nudge feature. Its “hair raising gameplay” is based on diesel-punk aesthetics (think steam-punk on steroids) with constant flaming Wilds and up to 10x multipliers on any given spin!

Potentially dishing out huge wins, this HTML5 game, available on all devices, will appeal to high-rollers.

In Starring Roles

In the sense of sound and visuals, the game is nothing short of a miracle, with a metal contraption serving as reels/slot machine itself, filled with majestically designed symbols like Queen of Steam, Jack of Punk, King of Diesel, Hot Scatters and...

...and on the audio side of things, a gentle, dark-ambient score creates a perfect industrial backdrop for a bleak theme.

Landing at least three scatters will trigger a round of 7 extra spins. The symbols are, in general, expanding and you can get additional extra spins by landing only one more scatter and the number of nudges down.

Nolimit City guarantees that “that this bonus round is sure to drive the thickest skinned to a heated fury that can reap highest rewards.” Well, that sounds good, doesn't it?

The Chief Says

Nolimit City's Product Owner, Per Lindheimer, comments...

“Hot Nudge takes a gritty turn into the diesel-punk world where the persistent may conquer. We always loved the nudge feature in classic games and are very pleased to be able to incorporate it into different features. There are some massive hits in the game and that x10 multiplier sure will get the adrenaline pumping!”

During the past months, the company has been busy over their heads and have inked supply deals with Soft2Bet, Bethard, Gaming Innovation Group and Suprnation.

Check the game out and let us know your thoughts:

Source:

“Hot Nudge – Now Live”, nolimitcity.com, July 26, 2018.

Boracay Casino Resort Still On Track to Open in 2021 Despite Ongoing Hurdles

A planned casino resort on Boracay is on track to be launched in 2021, despite the Philippine island’s closure for environmental rehabilitation, a representative of one of the companies behind the project told local media.

News emerged last December that Macau gaming and hospitality giant Galaxy Entertainment Group had partnered Philippine leisure and entertainment company Leisure and Resorts World Corp. (LRWC) to build together a $550-million integrated resort on the island of Boracay. It was announced earlier this year that Galaxy has received a provisional gaming license from the Philippine gambling regulator, PAGCOR, for the operation of a casino at the planned property.

At the same time, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the closure of the island for a six-month environmental cleanup, following a probe into the environmental state of the popular tourist hub. The probe found that local businesses were discharging untreated waste water into the sea and that there were multiple illegal buildings across the island. Boracay was closed on April 26.

Responding to news that Galaxy and its local partner were planning to build a casino on the island, President Duterte has repeatedly said that he would not allow that.

Despite the President’s vows to prevent the plan from materializing and the island’s closure, LRWC is confident that the resort is on track to open by 2021, as originally planned. The company’s Vice President for Legal Affairs Katrina Nepomuceno said Friday that the environmental cleanup is not delaying the project as they were able to finish what they had to finish before Boracay’s closure.

It became known earlier this year that Galaxy and its local partner have obtained a 23-hectare site in the Barangay Manoc-Manoc area. Ms. Nepomuceno said that a land survey has proven that the portion of land was alienable and disposable.

Working Closely with Environmental Regulators

The LRWC official further explained that they have been working closely with the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which is in charge of the ongoing rehabilitation process, as well as with other government agencies, and that they are getting updates on the process from the Boracay task force.

Ms. Nepomuceno also told media that they want to be sure their project is fully compliant with the government’s environmental requirements.

Asked when construction on the resort is expected to begin, the official said that they are yet to decide on the official start of the development process but that they believe the 2021 targeted opening is still achievable despite the island’s closure. Ms. Nepomuceno further pointed out that she is confident in the future materialization of their plan because President Duterte has said that he wants to keep Boracay popular with tourists and they are offering an opportunity for that to happen.

The LRWC official also said Friday that they are yet to receive confirmation from the Department of Agrarian Reform about a recently announced planned for Boracay to be placed under an agrarian reform that would aim to hand land across the island to its natives.

The post Boracay Casino Resort Still On Track to Open in 2021 Despite Ongoing Hurdles appeared first on Casino News Daily.

Snaitech Enters Spanish Market, Playtech to Follow

Italian developer, Snaitech, is making their first move to foreign markets by entering a deal that will see their brand of tech solutions delivered to Spanish players.

The company has managed to secure the B2B Spanish license (from their regulator, DGOJ) and will therefore swiftly introduce their Smart Technology offer to operators in this Western European nation.

What's on the Menu?

Snaitech will be putting various online and mobile app sports betting products, payment processing services and betting terminals...

The deal is being made with the help of BetSmart platform and Apuestas de Espana.

...And as Fabio Schiavolin, the company's managing director puts it: “The Snaitech universe is being transformed and is driving the company beyond its position as an Italian market leader. After launching in July, in the following months we want to expand our presence in the Spanish gaming sector in different autonomous communities.”

Impending Changes

Back in April, the software developing giant, Playtech, has completed the acquisition of Snaitech's 70.6% of shares for €846 million and has since been required to purchase the remainder of shares after securing approval from Italy's financial regulator, Consob.

At the moment, Playtech owns 96.5% of the Snaitech shares and will complete the full takeover on August 3rd.

This acquisition also means a change in personnel. Shiavolin will remain managing director of Snaitech until 2021, while Mor Weizer, Playtech CEO will become the chairman of the company.

Likewise, Playtech's Chief Financial Officer will be joining the board.

Weizer commented that this reshuffling would “improve the quality and diversification of group revenue, whilst delivering exposure to high growth end markets.”

Source:

“Snaitech enters Spain as Playtech deal nears completion”, igamingbusiness.com, July 26, 2018.

Betsoft Gaming releases Dragon Kings slot

Feel the power of the four seas in Dragon Kings slot, the new, feature-packed, video game from Betsoft Gaming.  A remix of an ancient legend, Dragon Kings brings Chinese mythology to life with a crisp, modern aesthetic Asian-inspired music, and a collection of special features. Offering tiered, progressive jackpots and free spins, Dragon Kings slot has many unique features lying ...

The post Betsoft Gaming releases Dragon Kings slot appeared first on Casino News Today.

Landing Int’l casino operations to start in March 2022 – PAGCOR

Hong Kong-listed casino operator Landing International Development Ltd. (LIDL) may have to wait five more years before it starts its casino operations in Manila.

State-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) confirmed on Thursday that it recently granted LIDL a provisional license for the construction and operation of its $1.5 billion integrated resort in Manila.

However, PAGCOR said that LIDL may only start its casino operations by March 2022 due to a standing 5-year moratorium on new casinos in the state capital. The existing integrated resorts in Manila had requested a casino moratorium in 2017 to allow the market the space to mature.

There are about 18 casinos in Metro Manila, 3 of which are operated and owned by PAGCOR.

Entertainment City currently boasts three active resort casinos – Solaire Resort & Casino, City of Dreams Manila and Okada Manila – while Travellers International’s West Side City Resorts World is planning a 2020 launch.

“In the Manila area, we listened to our investors. They gave us a position paper to give breathing space for the market space to mature in the NCR (National Capital Region) so we listened,” PAGCOR chair Andrea Domingo explained.

In the meantime, PAGCOR told LIDL to “comply with all existing limitations and ensure the continuing validity of all the requirements” and to complete its proposed Nayong Pilipino Theme Park before the regulator issues “the authority to commence its casino operations.”

LIDL, which operates the Jeju Shinhwa World casino resort on South Korea’s Jeju island, has tied up with the Nayong Pilipino Foundation (“NPF”) and the Philippine Department of Tourism (“DOT”) for the development of the multi-billion dollar integrated resort.

According to its proposal, LIDL intends to develop a family-oriented resort, which consists of a casino, an indoor cultural theme park featuring the Philippines’ rich history, culture and heritage, an indoor waterpark, Asia’s first indoor movie-based theme park, a world-class state-of-the-art convention center, luxury hotels, and international retail and dining.

On Wednesday, LIDL chair Dr. Yang Zhihui thanked PAGCOR for granting the project a provisional license, which is valid for 15 years.

The post Landing Int’l casino operations to start in March 2022 – PAGCOR appeared first on CalvinAyre.com.

Simon Lam Takes Down Inaugural WPT Gardens $5,000 Main Event

Simon Lam is the brand new member of WPT’s club of Main Tour Main Event champs. The player outlasted the 584-strong field of the inaugural edition of the WPT Gardens Poker Festival $5,000 Main Event for his first title from the popular poker series.

He collected a payout of $565,055 and a brand new 2018 Mercedes-Benz SLC Roadster (valued at around $50,000). The player also secured a $15,000 ticket into the season-ending WPT Tournament of Champions.

The final day of the WPT Gardens Main Event was played on Thursday at the Gardens Casino in Hawaiian Gardens, California. Lam came into that final day as the chip leader among a total of six survivors who comprised the official final table.

The first levels of the day saw poker pro Jake Schindler take the lead and extend the gap between him and his fellow contenders. Schindler then lost some of his momentum and what followed next was a fierce war for the chip lead between Men Nguyen and Lam. That war lasted hours and extended into three-handed play.

During that key and lengthy stage of the final table, the chip lead exchanged hands between Nguyen and Lam, and Schindler occasionally managed to double through his two remaining opponents to get ahead of them for a while. It was the elimination of Nguyen in third place that put an end to the mad three-handed race. The player collected $270,430 for his performance.

Heads-Up Duel

Lam was the chip leader at the time heads-up between him and Schindler kicked off. And the player never really lost his momentum, despite his opponent’s efforts to improve.

The two-handed match began with Lam holding 19.2 million in chips to Schindler’s 4.175 million. The two players battled it out for 11 hands until Hand #164 of the six-handed final table was dealt. It saw Lam raise to 600,000 pre-flop and Schindler call.

The [Js][7c][2c] landed on the flop. Schindler checked, while Lam bet 500,000 to see his opponent check-raise to 1.5 million. Lam spent the next 30 seconds thinking what to do next and eventually shoved. Schindler snap-called for his last 4.675 million, tabling [Jd][8d] for a pair of jacks. Lam turned [Jc][9s] for pocket jacks but with a higher kicker. Blank [3h] on the turn and [2d] on the river sealed it for Lam and sent Schindler to the rail. The tournament’s runner-up finisher collected $366,740.

Craig Varnell finished fourth in the WPT Gardens Main Event for $201,615. Saya Ono took home $151,995 for her fifth-place finish. Jared Griener went out in sixth place for $115,885.

The first ever WPT Gardens Main Event saw 584 entries who created a prize pool of $2,944,800. The top 73 finishers received a portion of the money.

The WPT is next heading to Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant, Oklahoma for the second poker festival on its 2018/19 schedule. That festival’s Main Event take place on August 3-7. It features a $3,700 buy-in fee and a guaranteed prize pool of $1 million.

The post Simon Lam Takes Down Inaugural WPT Gardens $5,000 Main Event appeared first on Casino News Daily.

Casino News Report - July 2018

We’ll explore this month’s featured casinos and what they have going for you, see how you can win extra LCB credits while also becoming an expert on BBQ recipes and give you some hints on new casinos and how to make the most out of your membership for the next month.”

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

 

Hi LCB’ers! Hope you’re enjoying all the summer pleasures as we do with another fantastic month behind us; and we can’t wait to share some of the highlights with you while having just landed from the marvellous iGB Live conference in Amsterdam.

First up, this month’s must-try US casino is the speakeasy-themed Roaring 21, a casino which carries the reputation of its sister brands Casino Max and Cherry Jackpot, has an exclusive welcome bonus and a casino rep Martyn whom you can contact day and night directly on our forum should you need any additional assistance.

For crypto fans out there, Realtime Gaming-powered “Intertops Red” is our recommended Bitcoin casino of the month, which is also one of our few approved sites that you can rely on. Be sure to check out our full review with exclusive bonuses to get started right away!

Any Microgaming fans watching?! For our third and final pick, we have “Luxury Casino” that’s from the popular Casino Rewards family and which also caters to players from the UK and Canada.

 

Did you know we have a “members only” section with exclusive kick-ass tournaments hosted by reputable casinos? Don’t hesitate to get in on the action this August and don’t forget to subscribe to the thread to receive notifications when something new comes up as these events are exclusive to LBC members!

 

Speaking of tourneys, we have our own summery monthly contest in full action, where besides a chance of winning a share of a hefty prize pool you’ll also get some finger-licking BBQ recipes from members across the world. There’s never too much to learn about good food, so be sure to share your own recipe so we can all try it out next time we fire up the grill!

And don’t worry, if you missed this contest you can just click that yellow Subscribe button so you know when to join next time!

 

With all that taking place we also made sure to have something fresh off the press on our trendy New Casinos page. Feel free to refine the new sites to your liking using our filters but let us give you a couple of hints first; starting with “Rolla Casino” which offers many reasons to join such as fast, 24-hour cashouts, daily tourneys with wager-free prizes and player missions for even more rewards.

Split Aces Casino is another one which we think high rollers especially will find interesting that already sets a good example with a watchful rep on our forum, and offers plenty of payment methods and games to choose from.

Be sure to read our full reviews and speak up to let us know what you really think of them as well!

 

Finally, big thanks to our active members on the forum who have also shared their stories on memorable wins; and congrats to our senior member “mikino” who shared his journey from converting his casino comp points into twelve hundred bucks on roulette at Grande Vegas Casino. Read our complete interview and don’t be shy to inspire us with your own success stories as well!

 

That’s the report for this month.

Hope you liked it and be sure to share your thoughts on it in the comments section so we can continue to deliver the best content possible.

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As always, play responsibly and stay tuned for more news coming soon!

Simon Lam Leads WPT Gardens Main Event Final Table

The WPT Gardens $5,000 Main Event final table was set early today after a long Day 4 of the tournament. Six players are set to return later today at the host venue, the Gardens Casino in Hawaiian Gardens, Southern California, to play down to a champion.

The winner will take home a nice payout of $565,055, including a $15,000 seat into the season-ending WPT Tournament of Champions, and a brand new Mercedes-Benz SLC Roadster worth over $50,000.

Simon Lam is leading the final pack of six players after the fourth day of play. The overnight chip leader had accumulated a stack of 6.155 million by the end of Day 4 action to pack with a considerable advantage over his fellow contenders for the title. Popular poker pro Jake Schindler bagged the second largest stack, good for 4.45 million.

This will be Lam’s second WPT Main Tour Main Event final table. Back in 2016, the player finished 4th in the $3,500 buy-in WPT Borgata Poker Open Main Event, good for his best live tournament cash of $250,970. Overall, Lam has nearly $1.4 million in earnings from various live tournaments.

Day 4 Action

Day 4 of the WPT Gardens Main Event kicked off with 46 hopefuls still in contention. Saya Ono was leading the survivors. While the local player failed to keep her lead throughout the day, she managed to secure her spot at the official final table. She currently occupies the fifth spot in the temporary leaderboard with a stack of 3.445 million, good for 57 big blinds. In other words, even though she stands near the bottom of the chip counts chart, she is still running pretty deep.

The Day 4 hopefuls first played to the unofficial final table of nine. Men Nguyen was holding the largest chip stack when that stage of the game was reached with 3.635 million. The remaining nine survivors were then relocated to a single table. It took 98 hands of play for the official six-handed final table to be reached.

Nguyen maintained quite some momentum halfway through those 98 hands. However, to everyone’s surprise the player fell asleep at the table and spent more than 20 hands in that state. He eventually woke up, but Lam was already gaining momentum by that time and was eying the top of the leaderboard.

Despite his unexpected nap, Nguyen made it to the official final table with the third largest stack among the remaining survivors. The player will enter the final day of action with 3.935 million or 66 big blinds.

Aside from the chip leader, Lam, Schindler, Nguyen, and Ono, Jared Griener with 3.875 million and Craig Varnell with 1.955 million were the other two players to make it to the tournament’s official final table.

Six-handed action is slated to kick off today at 4 pm local time at the host venue. The hopefuls will play down to a champion. Each of them is guaranteed a minimum cash of $115,885.

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Boyd Gaming hails “significant progress” in plan to make money

Casino operator Boyd Gaming enjoyed “significant progress” in executing its plan for world – or at least regional US market – domination in the second quarter of 2018.

Figures released Thursday show the Las Vegas-based Boyd generated revenue of $618.8m in the three months ending June 30, up 2.1% from the same period last year. Operating income was up 7.5% to $96.2m while net income dropped one-fifth to $38.9m.

It should be noted that Q2 2017 enjoyed a $21m bump from Boyd’s former 50% stake in Atlantic City’s market-leading Borgata casino, which the company sold to its Borgata partner MGM Resorts. Going purely on income from continuing operations, Boyd’s bottom line was up nearly 40%.

All three of Boyd’s business segments enjoyed mild revenue gains in Q2, including the Las Vegas Locals market, which saw revenue inch up to $220m but adjusted earnings rose 11% to $70.2m thanks to the highest Q2 operating margin since 2005. The Downtown Las Vegas segment reported revenue of $61.2m while earnings rose 8% to $13.5m.

Boyd’s mainstay Midwest & South segment reported revenue up 2.3% to $335.6m while earnings rose 5.1% to $93.7m. The segment includes one month’s worth of contributions from Lattner Entertainment, the Illinois-based video gaming terminal business that Boyd acquired in May. The addition helped the segment post its highest operating margins in 16 years.

Looking ahead, Boyd boosted its full-year 2018 adjusted earnings guidance by $15m to $633m. This includes the Lattner business but doesn’t include the four Pinnacle Entertainment properties or the Valley Forge Casino Resort in Pennsylvania that Boyd agreed to acquire late last year.

Boyd’s expansion into Pennsylvania has the company “closely evaluating” the potential of the state’s legal sports betting market. Boyd also operates two properties in Mississippi, which expects to launch its wagering market as early as next week. Boyd CEO Keith Smith (pictured) said the company was “actively preparing” for the launch of legal betting as opportunities arise in the states in which Boyd has a presence.

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Olympic Entertainment squeezes more profit from fewer casinos

Eastern European gaming operator Olympic Entertainment Group (OEG) enjoyed a profit bump in the first half of 2018 despite the ongoing reduction of its core retail casino business.

Figures released Thursday show OEG’s gross revenue hit €106.6m in the six months ending June 30, a modest 2% improvement over the same period last year. Earnings improved 5.7% to €21.7m while net profit jumped 16.7% to €14.7m, primarily through a significant reduction in income tax payments.

The gains came despite OEG’s shrinking retail base, which saw the company’s complement of casinos shrink to 115 from 117 at the end of H1 2017 (and from 125 at the end of H1 2016). Similarly, OEG’s number of slot machines fell 2% to 4,021, electronic roulette terminals decreased by 6% to 109, gaming tables slipped 5.4% to 156 and poker tables shrank 4.5% to 63.

Over the past couple years, OEG was forced to exit the Polish market while fighting a rearguard action against anti-gaming officials in Latvia’s capital Riga. OEG was also facing the potential loss of four venues in Slovakia’s capital Bratislava until the city’s casino ban was overturned by a local court in June.

Latvia remains OEG’s top market, with some 53 gaming venues generating revenue of €17.1m in the three months ending June 30. Estonia’s 24 venues ranked second with €13.6m, while Italy’s 14 venues contributed €8.2m.

OEG also operates retail and online sports betting via its Malta-licensed OlyBet brand, but OEG doesn’t break out separate numbers for its online operations. In February, OEG announced plans to launch online operations in Italy, although this was before the country’s new government announced its draconian plan to prohibit all gambling advertising and sponsorship.

This spring, OEG announced its intention to delist from the Estonian stock exchange after some deep-pocketed private equity types made the company’s investors an offer they couldn’t refuse. However, on May 31 the Listing and Surveillance Committee of the Nasdaq Tallinn Stock Exchange rejected OEG’s plans to delist prior to the formal completion of the takeover, a move that OEG has appealed.

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Las Vegas Sands Q2 earnings short of market expectations

Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS) net income rose 1.8 percent in the second quarter of 2018, to the disappointment of analysts.

LVS announced that its Q2 earnings stands at $556 million, or $0.70 per share short of market expectations of $0.78 per share.

The market reacted negatively with LVS shares sliding 5.4 percent to $71.10 in extended trading.

Consolidated net revenue of LVS, climbed 6.2 percent to $3.30 billion in the three months ending June 30, 2018. The company’s operating income in Q2 2018, fell 2.4 percent to $797 million.

LVS attributed their lower income to softer rolling volume and win percentage in its Singapore unit, offsetting its gains Macau. The company also wrote-off $92 million in relation to costs from the Four Seasons Macau tower project.

LVS founder, chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson is happy how the firm’s balance sheet “remains the strongest in the industry.”

“We experienced strong growth in both the VIP and mass table games segments, enabling us to grow our market share of gaming revenue both year-over-year and sequentially. Our Macao operations are back to generating an annualized EBITDA run rate of $3 billion. Marina Bay Sands continue to produce strong cash flows, while Las Vegas has another strong quarter on a hold-normalized basis,” Adelson said during the earnings call on Wednesday.

In Macau, total revenues of Sands China Ltd. (SCL) jumped 18 percent to $2.11 billion in Q2 2018. Its net income was at $427 million in the second quarter of 2018, a 30 percent increase from the second quarter of 2017.

SCL attributed the robust Macau results to The Venetian Macao which had revenues of $830 million, a 23.1 percent increase year-on-year while its casino revenue increased 25.8 percent to US$677 million.

Its record rolling chip volume surged 44.3 percent to US$7.46 billion year-on-year.

The Parisian Macao posted revenues and adjusted property EBITDA of US$371 million and US$114 million, respectively, both up slightly from the 2Q 2017.

SCL’s newest property has casino revenue of US$308 million, 8.1 percent higher than the previous year with Rolling chip volume for the quarter at nearly US$4.48 billion an increase of 19.1 percent while non-rolling chip drop at the property’s casino was US$1.06 billion, up 8.6 percent from a year earlier.

Sands Cotai Central also had a robust second quarter, with net revenue rising 15.9 percent to US$509 million.

International brokerage Union Gaming noted that premium mass has notably outpaced base mass for the 8th consecutive quarter.

“We view SCL’s 2Q18 – above market VIP growth, and in line mass growth (and flattish sequential results) – as all the more impressive given what can only be described as a confluence of significant headwinds,” Union Gaming analyst Grant Govertsen said in its note.

However, the gains of LVS in Macau were greatly affected by the lackluster performance in Singapore.

Marina Bay Sands’ (MBS) revenue dipped 15.5 percent to US$705 million in the quarter. Its adjusted property EBITDA also dropped 25.2 percent to US$368 million.

MBS suffered from fewer bets and lower win percentage. Data shows rolling chip volume for the Singapore unit plunged 32.6 percent to US$5.87 billion year-on-year. MBS’ rolling chip win rate declined 2.84 percent from 4.42 percent in the three months ending June 30, 2017.

Adelson expressed confidence that LVS will be able to penetrate the Japanese casino market after the country passed its controversial Integrated Resorts (IR) Implementation Bill.

Adelson told analysts that his decades-long ties to Japan will give them quite an advantage in securing a casino license. The billionaire reminded them that he used to produce COMDEX trade shows before it was sold to Softbank Corp.

“So I’ve got a good background and reputation in Japan for being the leading MICE Integrated Resort developer and operator. And I think that the estimates by people who know – say they know, whom we believe they know, say that we’re in the number one pole position,” he said.

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Exclusive Interview with PlayOJO’s Ohad Narkis on UK Gambling Industry’s Challenges

Ohad Narkis is the CEO of PlayOJO, an innovative online casino that launched last year and is aiming to challenge the big industry names. Having previously worked for some of the global gambling industry’s powerhouses, including PokerStars and Scientific Games, Mr. Narkis is now using his knowledge and experience in the field to build a brand that places fairness and transparency at its core.

The UK gambling space is one of the main markets PlayOJO has been targeting since it went live. What are the challenges facing a new operation in the highly competitive UK online gambling environment? How is PlayOJO handling competition? And how does it make sure that its is fully compliant with the wave of regulatory reforms in the UK gambling industry from the past several years? Mr. Narkis has provided answers to these and many other important questions and has offered our readers an insight into how PlayOJO believes customers should be treated and industry challenges should be approached.

Operating an online casino business in the current environment of extreme competition, rising costs, and growing regulatory pressure must be really hard. What are the biggest challenges a new casino comes across when it goes live?

I would say that the biggest challenge of all is to cut through the noise in the market. The UK market is extremely competitive, very fragmented and is dominated by several well-established brands, some of which are high-street brands that have been around for years. To break into this cluttered market takes a lot of effort, preparation and much thought about how to differentiate yourself and stand out in the 3 key levels – Product, Brand, and Value proposition.

Without these major considerations and a creative and cut-through marketing strategy, it would be hard for any new brand to launch into a market and build any kind of significant market share. The growing compliance and regulatory pressure makes things even more challenging for a new casino. As far as PlayOJO goes, we believe that as operators we have a responsibility to our players and this is why we decided to challenge the market on some of its core shortfalls relating to fairness and transparency. With our fairness implementation, we’ve created a win win situation for both our players as well as for our business.

In what ways does PlayOJO stand out from its competition?

We’ve established PlayOJO to challenge the perception of the market. The outdated way of how things were being done was creating friction with customers and a greater level of mistrust within the industry. In order to address this fundamental inherent issue, we wanted to create a brand that is very transparent and fair. This is why we created a completely new value proposition with PlayOJO; we scrapped all the traditional bonus systems and created a new platform where customers could interact with us and not have concerns about things like funds availability or bonus money.

We wanted to create a brand that looked and felt different to any other brand. The name itself is not even a traditional casino name as we wanted to steer clear of using words like “luck” or “spins” that scream casino. The same goes for the visual brand elements being gender neutral, warm and welcoming. We treat players as our friends and this comes across in our playful and fun tone of voice and the way that we communicate with them.

Your bonus rewards system is a bit different from what is usually offered at online casinos. Can you elaborate more on how you approach new customers and how you reward them?

Keeping our players loyal is of essence and that’s why we came up with features like OJOPlus – a money-back mechanism which gives players back a percentage of their wager every time they bet, whether they win or lose. Unlike other casinos, it’s not a promotional offer but an inherent part of our value proposition which is active 24/7 and of course paid in cash.

On the same note, we don’t believe in luring our players in with too-good-to-be-true match deposit bonuses. Instead, we reward them for actually playing, using our levels system and the OJO Wheel, which they can spin by reaching new levels or just as a surprise extra perk. At PlayOJO, all funds are available for customers to play or withdraw at any time and without any restrictions. We do not impose painful wagering requirements on our players and we set no max win limit – they are in control.

The UK is the largest regulated iGaming market, but it has become a bit of a challenge to operate there due to competition and regulatory pressure. What are your personal views about that market and its current state?

The UK market is becoming much more challenging to operate in, particularly because of the increased regulatory pressure, some of which is understandable and actually very positive. It took extra attention and enforcement from the Gambling Commission and the likes of CMA and CPA to pave the way for operators to be more upfront about how they operate.

There was much non-transparency in the market between customers and operators that became a problem. I believe that it’s very positive that regulators are now pushing for operators to clean up their acts and give customers more control over their money and their play. This is a fundamental and welcome change in the way that the industry operates and I anticipate that it will take some time for the industry to adapt.

The UK Government announced started taxing freeplays last summer. How has this affected your operations in the country?

To be honest, it didn’t have a significant impact on our operations because we only launched a few months before the change to taxation calculation took place so were able to plan for it from the outset. Because we’re less bonus-heavy, the introduction of tax on bonuses didn’t impact our bottom line in a significant way.

The UK Gambling Commission has slapped massive fines on a number of operators for compliance failures over the past year. How do you make sure that all aspects of your UK-facing business are compliant with the growing number of requirements?

Along with the entire industry, we have learned a lot from these high-profile cases of certain operators, some of which who were were charged with failings within crucial operational functions. In an environment where the Gaming Commission keeps raising the bar when it comes to Responsible Gaming, KYC and Customer Protection, we need to stay one step ahead of the game so that our players stay protected.

This last year we’ve seen a greater endorsement in operators being challenged to be more socially responsible. The significant fines that the Gambling Commission has imposed onto operators clearly shows that much more attention, time and resources need to be devoted into internal processes. These should include rigorous checks for customers’ sources of funds, AML prevention, preventing instances where self-excluded players are marketed to via 3rd party channels and very importantly, ensuring that players are not encouraged to play beyond their financial means.

We actually introduced several new safety measures that identity unusual playing patterns very early on in the player’s life-cycle. These involve a very efficient KYC process, including source of fund authorisation, play monitoring and in certain cases, a total suspension of play activities. This is something we have seen across the industry and it has impacted VIP players in particular. Our VIP player numbers have actually decreased over the last months which is simply due to these suggested measurements, but we feel that this is the only way for responsible operators to operate.

You have quite unique approach to responsible gambling. Can you tell us more about your focus in that area?

We’ve created an environment where players feel secure because there is nothing hidden in our terms and conditions and they have full control of their money, which is held in a single cash account. It’s about being socially responsible in terms of how we communicate with players and the fact that everything is upfront for them makes them feel protected.

All of our marketing is based around this idea – in fact our new marketing campaign is based around our fairness message. There is no other operator that has built an entire brand or campaign around being fair and with this initiative we hope to educate the industry as well as the customers by setting the “fairness bar” of how players should be treated in the industry. It’s a long-term goal that requires a great deal of resources, patience and stamina because changing perceptions in an industry that has been operating for many years with low-trust levels is not something that can be done overnight.

The matter of social responsibility goes beyond the UK for us. PlayOJO operates in a number of different markets and one of our fastest growing markets is in Sweden, where we launched at the beginning of 2018 with exactly the same propositions and “fair” brand promise.

Despite the fact the market there is still unregulated and the industry does not face the same pressures from regulators, our perception of how we believe the industry should operate remained intact. With the knowledge that the Swedish market will re-regulate at the beginning of 2019, we anticipate that the Swedish Gambling Authority will follow in the same footsteps as the UK Gambling Commission as far as getting operators to clean up their acts. Therefore, we see ourselves as the pioneers of a fair casino promise in Sweden, setting that “fairness bar” high as we have done in the UK and demonstrating how we believe operators should treat their customers, in a socially responsible and fair way.

The post Exclusive Interview with PlayOJO’s Ohad Narkis on UK Gambling Industry’s Challenges appeared first on Casino News Daily.

Landing Int’l wins provisional gaming license for Manila resort

Landing International Development Ltd (LIDL) says it has received provisional approval to build a $1.5b resort casino in the Philippines’ capital of Manila.

On Wednesday, LIDL briefly halted trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange pending a major announcement. Later, the company revealed that its subsidiary Landing Resorts Philippines Development Corporation had received a provisional license to establish and operate a casino within NayonLanding, the integrated resort it plans to build in Manila’s Entertainment City gaming zone.

LIDL says the provisional license agreement it has reached with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is valid for a 15-year term from the date issued or until July 11, 2033. Landing noted that the license doesn’t permit the resort to offer video streaming or internet gambling, unless PAGCOR declares otherwise.

LIDL has committed to spending at least $1b (and likely up to $1.5b) on its Entertainment City venue, which the company hopes to open by “early 2022.” The company has scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony on the development site on August 7.

The company cautioned that the project’s fate was contingent upon it receiving “other approvals” necessary to commence construction, “and these may or may not be granted.” Ordinarily, this is a boilerplate clause, but in LIDL’s case, nothing can be taken for granted.

Just last month, government auditors expressed concerns over the legality of the land lease deal LIDL had struck with its local partner, the Nayong Pilipino Foundation. The Philippine Commission on Audit expressed alarm at the favorable terms that LIDL had secured, which were far less steep than lease prices paid by other Entertainment City operators.

Should the project go forward, LIDL is promising a Filipino cultural theme park, an indoor waterpark, an indoor movie-based theme park, a convention center, luxury hotels, retail and dining areas, along with a 28k-square-meter gaming floor with a “sky casino” theme.

LIDL chairman Dr. Yang Zhihui (pictured) thanked PAGCOR “for their vote of confidence” in granting the provisional license, while pledging that the planned resort “will contribute positively” to the nation’s tourism sector – particularly via guests from South Korea – and create “significant job opportunities” both in the construction phase and afterward.

Entertainment City currently boasts three active resort casinos – Solaire Resort & Casino, City of Dreams Manila and Okada Manila – while Travellers International’s West Side City Resorts World is planning a 2020 launch.

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Melco Resorts Q2 revenue drops 5% on new accounting method

Asian casino operator Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd. reported a 5 percent decline in its net revenue after adopting a new accounting method for revenue recognition.

Despite seeing an improvement in adjusted property earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), Melco Resorts announced that its net revenue dropped to $1.23 billion in the second quarter of 2018 from $1.3 billion for the comparable period in 2017.

Melco adopted its new revenue standard using the modified retrospective method from Jan. 1, 2018. Using the previous accounting method, Melco Resort’s net revenue would have been $1.34 billion, representing an increase of about 3 percent from a year earlier.

“The decrease in net revenue was primarily attributable to higher commissions reported as a reduction in revenue upon the Company’s adoption of a new revenue recognition standard issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board,” Melco said in a statement.

Melco resorts also saw its operating income in April to June 2018 period fall by 8 percent to $118.1 million. On the bright side, Melco’s adjusted property EBITDA climbed by 8 percent to $355.5 million thanks to the “higher contributions it received from City of Dreams Manila (COD Manila) and Altira Macau.”

COD Manila recorded adjusted EBITDA of $87.3 million in Q2, 39 percent higher than the same period last year, on better performance in all COD Manila’s gaming segments.

COD Manila’s mass market table games drop rose 15 percent to $196.9 million, while gaming machine handle climbed 12.77 percent to $855.9 million.

Rolling chip turnover in COD Manila dropped by 6.25 percent to $3 billion, while rolling chip win rate climbed to 3.7 percent.

COD Manila’s non-gaming revenue rose 3.5 percent to $29.2 million from $28.1 million in the same period last year.

With the implementation of new accounting method, COD Manila’s net revenue was $173.9 million compared to $176.2 million in the second quarter of 2017. Using the previous method, COD Manila’s revenue would have increased 8 percent to $191 million.

Like COD Manila, Altira Macau’s gaming segment performed well in Q2, with net revenue up 14.4 percent to $123.1 million and adjusted EBITDA up threefold to $18.3 million.

Altira Macau’s rolling chip volume hit $4.8 billion, up 20 percent from Q2 2017, while rolling chip win was 3.6 percent. Gaming machine handle was $30 million, an increase of 294 percent, while machine win rate rose 0.3 points to 6.3 percent.

Meanwhile, bad luck struck COD Macau as its net revenue slipped 10.36 percent to $577.8 million. The property’s adjusted EBITDA was down 2.2 percent to $171.5 million.

COD Macau’s rolling chip turnover was down to $10.5 billion in Q2 from $12.2 billion in the same period last year. The integrated resort’s saving grace was its mass market table game drop and gaming machine handle, which rose to $1.18 billion and $1.12 billion, respectively.

Studio City—60 percent owned by Melco Resorts—also saw a lower adjusted EBITDA of $73.2 million versus $80.7 million a year earlier. Its rolling chip volume rose to $6.1 billion from $4.7 billion in the prior-year period.

However, Studio City’s rolling chip win rate was down to 2.7 percent from 3.3 percent in Q2 2017. Mass-market table games drop increased to $814.3 million from $661.4 million, while mass hold fell 2.3 points to 24.5 percent.

“I think we’ve had very bad luck in the second quarter … but at the end of the day we don’t think there’s anything fundamentally wrong with how we’re operating. It’s purely luck,” Melco Resorts Chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho said in a conference call.

Ho said that the group was shifting its focus on Japan, which recently passed the controversial Integrated Resorts Implementation Bill. According to the executive, “Melco is in a strong position to help Japan realize the vision for integrated resort development with a unique Japanese touch.”

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