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INDIAN ASSOCIATION WANTS SLOTS
Indian Hotel Association asks the Central Government for permission to operate gaming machines in provinces India - Slot operations
The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) has asked India’s Central govern- ment to allow them to operate gaming machines in Daman, Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli to boost tourism.
Edwin Mendoza, PAGCOR; Larry Xiao, GLI Asia General Manager; Jorge Sarmieto, PAGCOR President and COO; Francis Hernando, PAGCOR.
PHILIPPINES – PAGCOR TECHNICAL STANDARDS Since opening the first full-service and accredited gaming test lab in the Macau region, Gaming Laboratories International, LLC, has been growing its business exponen- tially throughout the area.
Now GLI, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, has reached another milestone in assisting regulators for devel- oping the PAGCOR (Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation) Technical Standard for Electronic Gaming Machines. PAGCOR has expressed its appreciation and thanks to GLI for its support and assistance in this effort.
PAGCOR formally announced the launch of the Technical Standard to the Philippine media, and the agency invited GLI Asia General Manager Larry Xiao to attend the ceremony as an honourable guest.
The development of technical standards for electronic gam- ing machines is an important milestone in the evolving role of PAGCOR as gaming industry regulator. Atty. Jorge V. Sarmiento, President and Chief Operating Officer of PAGCOR said, “We are pleased to finally have uniform technical stan- dards that will ensure a high level of integrity of slot machines and other types of electronic gaming machines operating in the Philippines.”
AUSTRALIA - AINSWORTH BRING LT GAME TO NSW Ainsworth Game Technology and LT Game have signed a multi-year distribution agreement, providing Ainsworth with exclusive distribution rights for the Fully Automated Multi Game (FAMG) in New South Clubs.
Danny Gladstone, CEO of Ainsworth Game Technology said: “On many visits to Macau we have seen the growth and suc- cess of LT game in this market segment. They are now the market leader and have set the benchmark in both live and simulated multi terminal gaming. We believe this product will provide the New South Wales Club market with a proven alternative in multi game, multi terminal marketing.”
Jay Chun, Chairman and CEO of Paradise Entertainment, added: “We are delighted to be able to make available our Fully Automated Multi Game (“FAMG”) system in New South Wales, Australia through the well regarded distribution chan- nel of Ainsworth Game Technology. With Ainsworth’s impec- cable reputation and market presence, we see this as a huge opportunity for LT Game. Our Live Table Games are already making big in-roads into the Australian casino market and the relationship with AGT in New South Wales is a valuable means of expanding the product range and revenue stream for our group.”
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Vishamber Shewakramani, Chairman, Daman Diu and Silvassa sub-committee of HRAWI, said: “The Union Territories could be developed as gambling hot spots as they are strategically located between Gujarat and Maharashtra. Enabling gam- ing machines and casinos in Daman and Silvassa will help in attracting more tourists. Goa is the only destination in the country where casinos and gambling are allowed. The gamblers have to go all the way to Goa to get that ultimate gaming experi- ence. If Daman and Silvassa get the casinos and gaming facilities, then these places could attract big hotel chains too.”
The request comes as Mumbai-based hospitality firm Delta Corp plans to commence operation of a hotel- casino in Daman.
Its shares rose 1.87 per cent to Rs 106.15 after the company said it was gearing up to launching The Deltin, a 176-room property in Daman that will become the region’s largest destination for gaming and hospitality. The Deltin is the latest offering
from Delta Corp following the recent launch of Deltin Royale, India’s largest offshore gaming ves- sel in Goa.
Delta Corp confirmed it will soon operate a casino covering 60,000 sq. ft. It is in the process of get- ting a 5-star certification for the hotel, and will subsequently commence casino operations, the company stated.
“The opening of The Deltin is a milestone for us and underlines our efforts to provide luxurious yet accessible gaming and hospitality destinations in the country. I am confident that it will reshape the face of the industry in India,” said Jaydev Mody, Chairman of Delta Corp.
The Daman Casino will benefit from its proximity to major urban centres such as Mumbai, Pune, Surat, Vadodara and Ahmedabad, as well as other major cities in the West and North.
Delta Corp owns three casinos, of which two are currently operational, and two hotels in Goa, as well as the luxury hotel in Daman. It holds three of the five gaming licenses issued in Goa.
Thunderbird in Manila ordered to pay backdated income tax
THE PHILIPPINES The Philippines’ Court of Tax Appeals has ordered that Thunderbird Pilipinas Hotels and Resorts will have to back pay income tax to 2006, meaning it owes around US$400,000.
Thunderbird had hoped that the 30 per cent income tax exemption offered to state-owned operator PAGCOR would also be applied to those companies taking on ‘fran- chise’ licensees.
It claimed that the PAGCOR char- ter that it had signed up for had now been revised without its con- sultation, arguing that even if it had to pay the tax, any calcula- tions should only apply after the 2011 decision by the country’s Supreme Court over ruling PAG- COR ’s tax exemption.
The courts rejected this based on the fact that Expanded Value Added Tax Law was passed in
2005, which the CTA argued abol- ished PAGCOR ’s tax-exempt sta- tus and had already been ruled on by the Supreme Court.
The decision will have been fol- lowed closely by those companies investing millions in developing resort casinos in the country, including Melco Crown, Genting with its Resorts World Bayshore and Universal with Manila Bay Resorts. Philippine casinos cur- rently pay a 15 per cent tax on VIP gaming revenue, 25 per cent on mass-market and a five per cent ‘franchise fee.’
Prior to the ruling Thunderbird Resorts Philippines had said it would invest $60m to expand its hotels in La Union and Rizal. Angel Suero, Thunderbird Resorts CEO, said: “In the next six years, we will be investing $30m. The biggest part of our investment will go to the hotel here in Poro Point,” he said.
Saipan The Northern Marianas parliament is looking at bringing casino gaming to the island of Saipan once again with the House of Representatives filing a completely new measure, its fourth attempt to pave the way for casinos in four years. The proposal for a Saipan casino licence would see investors spend US$30m as an upfront payment and $15m every year of operation. So far each of the four previous bills has been rejected by the Senate. The author of the bill, Ralph Demapan, who is also the floor leader of the House, claims that with the government being forced to pay into a retirement settlement fund, the casino concept could carry more weight. Pensions have recently been slashed by 25 per cent, which could see the legislation passed this time.
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