In one of the most candid assessments yet of Australia’s beleaguered casino operator, Bally’s Corporation Chairman Soo Kim has publicly described the historical missteps at Star Entertainment Group as potentially “the greatest bit of mismanagement I’ve ever seen,” underscoring both the depth of Star’s challenges and the scale of the turnaround task ahead. His comments, made in January 2026 as he leads the restructuring effort after Bally’s acquired a controlling stake in Star, reflect mounting scrutiny and strategic urgency as the company attempts to reverse years of operational and regulatory difficulties.
Macau’s gaming industry is increasingly embracing creative non-gaming promotions to strengthen its appeal to affluent visitors and drive spending in the premium mass segment — a trend highlighted by Wynn Macau’s recent initiative to award free BLACKPINK concert tickets in Hong Kong to its highest-spending premium mass players. This move, part of a broader promotional push in early 2026, underscores how integrated resorts are blending entertainment, tourism and gaming incentives to attract high-value customers in a competitively evolving market.
Macau is stepping up its efforts to attract more international tourists in 2026 with a fresh and highly visible incentive: free direct bus tickets from Hong Kong International Airport to Macau for eligible foreign visitors. This initiative, spearheaded by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), is part of a broader strategy to expand Macau’s reach in global tourism markets and foster longer, multi-destination trips that include both Hong Kong and Macau.
The landscape of luxury travel retail in Macau, Hong Kong and Greater China is undergoing a major strategic shift with the recent news that China Tourism Group Duty Free (CTG Duty-Free) has agreed to acquire a significant portion of DFS Group’s retail operations across the region. This deal marks one of the most important moves in travel retail this year, and its effects will ripple across the luxury goods, travel and retail ecosystems.
The chief executive of Resorts World Sentosa has cautioned that rebuilding the property’s appeal and financial performance will take time, underscoring that recovery is not an overnight process even as regional travel and gaming demand continue to normalise. Speaking amid ongoing operational upgrades, management stressed that the focus remains on long-term repositioning rather than short-term revenue spikes.
Author: Janice Chew • Tuesday, 20/01/2026
