Macau’s Judiciary Police (PJ) have dismantled a criminal ring involved in using counterfeit casino chips to defraud gamblers, arresting four men who admitted participating in the scheme. Officers seized 128 fake chips, each marked with a HK$10,000 denomination, during coordinated actions at casinos in Cotai and the New Port area. Three gamblers reported losses totalling around HK$210,000 from exchanging the bogus chips for cash, though the casinos themselves did not record direct losses as a result of the fraud.
Estoril-Sol, Portugal’s leading land-based casino operator, has declined to participate in the public tender for the casino concession in Póvoa de Varzim, effectively abandoning its bid to retain the licence for the property. The company’s subsidiary, Varzim Sol – Turismo, Jogo e Animação, SA, did not submit a proposal by the deadline, according to a filing with the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM). As a result, Estoril-Sol has temporarily retained operating rights through a government-approved extension, while authorities evaluate bids from other interested parties.
Melco Resorts & Entertainment has announced a HKD 3 million donation to support rural development in Xiushui County, Jiangxi Province, aligning with China’s national rural revitalization policy. The contribution will specifically fund the construction and relocation of the Hangkou Town Healthcare Center, improving medical services for local residents and neighbouring communities. The facility is expected to serve approximately 100,000 people, with an estimated outpatient volume of 40,000 and inpatient volume of 2,500, enhancing healthcare access in this rural area.
Japan’s ruling coalition has again confirmed that it plans not to tax casino winnings earned by non-residents at the country’s upcoming integrated resorts (IRs), reinforcing a stance aimed at boosting tourism and making Japan competitive with other major gaming hubs. This policy goal was outlined on December 19, 2025 by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner, the Japan Innovation Party, in their proposed tax reform framework for fiscal 2026 — ahead of the first casino opener in Osaka scheduled for autumn 2030.
Casino sales at Jeju Dream Tower reached US$330 million in 2025, driven by a sharp rebound in visitation as international travel continued to normalise. According to figures released by operator Lotte Tour Development, the resort’s casino recorded a 54% year-on-year increase in visitor numbers, reflecting stronger demand from overseas markets, particularly from China and other parts of Northeast Asia. The performance marks one of the strongest annual results since the foreigner-only casino opened, highlighting Jeju’s renewed appeal as a regional gaming and leisure destination.
Author: Janice Chew • Monday, 05/01/2026
