Wire ASIA & OCEANIA
Tabcorp Emerges in Stronger Position
Australian betting giant has reported a 'strong recovery following COVID-19 challenges' with group revenue down just 1.5 per cent in its half year results.
Gaming has still to recover with revenues down 51 per cent to $73m, but eligible shareholders will receive an interim dividend of 7.5 cents per share.
AUSTRALIA OPERAITONS
AUSTRALIA –Star Entertainment will be able to let 10,000 people into its Sydney casino following a loosening of COVID restrictions by the New South Wales government which will also see customers now no longer needing to wear face masks.
Matt Bekier, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, said: "The Star Entertainment Group references the NSW Government’s announcement on February 10, 2021 in relation to a further easing in the COVID-19 related operating restrictions that apply to the Greater Sydney region.
From February 12 2021, hospitality venues (including The Star Sydney) will revert to the one person per two sq.m rule (from one person per four sq.m ) and it is no longer mandatory to wear masks in gaming rooms. Based on the scale of The Star’s various casino areas, The Star Sydney will be able to host up to around 10,000 patrons at any one time across the total casino area. These restrictions are similar to those that applied to the property from December 7, 2020 to December 20, 2020.
SOUTH KOREA – Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment is 'optimistic' it will secure the financing needed to complete the $1.6bn build of its Inspire Korea Korean integrated resort project within the next quarter, adding that it will fast track $200m earmarked for the second phase of the project to use for the first.
Having put up $300m of its own, Mohegan is looking for a total of $900m from Korean investors, as well as $200m from Incheon International Airport Corp for infrastructure and $200m from bank loans.
The first phase will include a five-star hotel with 1,256 rooms, a 15,000-seat arena, convention halls, and a foreigner-only casino, costing an investment cost of $1.29bn. The gaming floor will boast 150 table games and 700 slots. There will also be a hemispherical dome featuring over 48,000 sq. ft. of climate-controlled indoor pool space with rides, dining and retail. The second phase will include a Paramount Picture-branded theme park due to open in 2025. The fourth and final phase won’t open until 2031.
JAPAN – Sega Sammy Holdings has taken a significant step forward with its succession plan after naming Haruki Satomi as new President and Group CEO following an organisational restructure.
Haruki Satomi takes over as CEO from his father and company founder, Hajime Satomi, who retains the role of Chairman and Representative Director. Haruki was formerly President and Group Chief Operating Officer.
P20 WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS
Tabcorp’s lotteries and keno revenues were up 1.6 per cent to $1,609m, digital lotteries turnover grew 20.9 per cent whilst wagering and media revenues were $1,189m, up 0.8 per cent. Gaming was still to recover though with revenues down down 51 per cent to $73m.
Tabcorp Managing Director and CEO, David Attenborough, said: “We are experiencing a strong recovery following the recent market challenges. Te COVID-19 pandemic continued to impact Tabcorp’s group earnings in 1H21, with the retail closures and restrictions, especially in Victoria, having a material impact. However, we are pleased with the way our teams and partners responded to the substantial operational challenges the pandemic presented.
“COVID-19 has clearly demonstrated the importance of serving customers with a seamless, multi-channel experience. Investments made to modernise our digital offering in recent years drove significant benefits. Our Lotteries & Keno business delivered strong digital growth and an excellent performance across the whole portfolio, including the refreshed Set For Life and
Big Time Gaming enters collaboration with Anthem
Australia
Big Time Gaming has appointed game data science specialist, Future Anthem, to enable deep player behavioural understanding on its portfolio of game titles.
Initially available on the Relax Gaming platform, BTG will access Anthemetrics – Future Anthem’s Game Data Science platform - which provides behavioural modelling and interactive visualisation on games, predicting performance and identifying optimisation opportunities that will benefit Relax Gaming’s operator partners and their players.
With spin-level data at its core, Anthemetrics provides BTG with the capability to analyse and optimise the
Saturday Lotto games. Over the last three years we have demonstrated a strong track record of refreshing and relaunching lottery games to grow customer engagement and rejuvenate the player experience.
“Our Wagering & Media business also delivered strong digital growth; however its earnings were impacted by the COVID-19-related shutdowns and restrictions, especially in Victoria. Tese factors also heavily impacted Gaming Services and substantially diminished its ability to generate revenues in the period.
“After taking actions to reduce costs, preserve cash and strengthen the balance sheet over the past 12 months, Tabcorp is emerging from the COVID-19 challenges in a stronger financial position. Tis has allowed us to resume paying dividends to shareholders. Eligible shareholders will receive an interim dividend of 7.5 cents per share fully franked, in line with the previously announced revised dividend payout policy.”
“Tabcorp has an improved financial position and outlook as we emerge from the challenges of COVID-19,” Mr Attenborough added.
gaming experience on its games.
Commenting on the partnership with Future Anthem, Nik Robinson, CEO at Big Time Gaming, said: “Leveraging the data provided by Future Anthem and applying that to our games, could be a huge milestone for BTG, providing us with an opportunity to continue optimising our slots. Tis is the first step in an important partnership that offers multiple growth opportunities that will benefit our customers and their players.”
“Whilst we are starting with player-level insight on an important BTG distribution partner like Relax Gaming, I’m confident that there will be multiple opportunities for us to work together across the entire BTG portfolio in the future,” added Leigh Nissim, CEO and Founder of Future Anthem.
Australia
Crown Resorts will have its suitability as an operator checked on all fronts with the Victorian Government confirming that a Royal Commission will investigate the company's suitability to hold a casino licence for Crown Melbourne. Following the Bergin Inquiry into the operator's suitability for Sydney, an inquest has also been launched in Perth. Te Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR), the independent statutory authority that regulates Victoria's gambling and liquor industries, confirmed that the Royal Commission will be led by former Federal Court judge Raymond Finkelstein QC. Victoria’s Minister for Liquor and Gaming Regulation, Melissa Horne, said: “"Crown Melbourne will continue to operate but within the context of the Royal Commission examining its suitability. We need to work with the Royal Commission and see what those findings are.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122
