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Thailand Confirms It Wants Global Casino Giants to Bid for Licenses

A Thai finance leader is pushing policymakers to ready casino gaming legislation by the middle of this month and he’s making clear it should include provisions to allow global companies to bid for licenses in the Southeast Asian nation.

Thailand casino gambling
A Thai finance minister says he wants the country’s casino industry to be open to private sector companies. (Image: Outlook Travel Magazine)

Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat balked at a suggestion parliament member Korrawee Prissanantakul who suggested that the planned entertainment complexes, which will include gaming venues be run by the government. While Amornvivat is prodding the Thai customs, excise, and revenue departments to prepare entertainment district plans by the middle of this month, he wants a measured approach.

We need to assess the project thoroughly to prevent negative impacts on the economy and society,” said the deputy finance minister in a recent interview with The Bangkok Post.

Thailand recently wrapped up a public comment period on the 22-page Draft of the Complete Entertainment Business Act B.E. That ran through Aug. 18 and by all appearances, Thai citizens are on board with the country introducing casino hotels as a way of boosting the tourism industry, which is one of the largest drivers of economic activity in the nation.

Big Names Already Mulling Thailand Casinos

With growth outlets hard to come by, particularly outside the US, some of the biggest names in the gaming industry are mulling entry into Thailand.

Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, and Wynn Resorts are among the US-based operators that could pursue Thai licenses. MGM previously said its effort in the country would be run by its MGM China arm, which operates two integrated resorts in Macau. Owing to its strong footprint in the Asia-Pacific region, Genting could also be a player for a Thai casino license.

Amornvivat told The Bangkok Post he envisions a scenario in which any private sector can bid for a permit in Thailand as long it meets various criteria. Those stipulations include an upfront investment of nearly $1.3 billion, an application fee of almost $13,000, and a licensing fee of approximately $640 million.

Add all of that up and it’d be a minimum of a $2 billion per operator to get a Thailand casino up and running and that could be attractive because it’s far less than the financial commitments gaming companies contend with in other regions.

Thai Casino Tax Also Attractive

Local taxes are another issue gaming companies deal with and there’s essentially no uniformity on a regional basis. However, it’s clear Thailand is looking to be appealing to the industry on that basis.

Experts believe Thailand will opt for a 17% tax on gross gaming revenue (GGR) — the same rate applied in Singapore. That tax rate is viewed as attractive and would be competitive with other casino markets in the region.

Last month, reports emerged indicating Thai policymakers supportive of the casino plan would like to see three gaming venues in the capitol city of Bangkok and at least two more in rural areas.

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Illegal Texas Horse Racetrack Raided, Drugs, Gambling Devices Seized

Authorities in West Texas raided an illegal quarter-horse racetrack and arrested nine people for offenses including promoting gambling, money laundering, racketeering, and the manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance.

Carril Mochomos, racetrack, Levelland, Hockley County, Texas, bush racing
Footage taken from Carril Mochomos’ Facebook page, above, shows that it was a slick operation, with professionally produced highlights of races. (Image: Facebook/Carril Mochomos)

Police uncovered 135 grams of cocaine and numerous illegal gambling devices at the track, known as Carril Mochomos, near the city of Levelland, west of Lubbock, Texas.

The raid came after an investigation by animal rights group PETA into the clandestine world of unlicensed horse racing.

The organization said it identified as many as 50 illegal “bush tracks” across Texas, where a lack of regulatory oversight means that the drugging and abuse of horses is rife. PETA estimates that there are more than 150 such tracks throughout the US.

Advertising Openly

Carril Mochomos openly advertised its events on social media and produced professional quality videos of racing highlights, complete with informational graphics.

A September 13 post on its Facebook page written in Spanish advertises the track’s third anniversary, inviting visitors to bring their own beer while offering free candy and a bounce castle for the kids.

PETA said in a statement Monday that it had handed information about Carril Mochomos’ operations to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), which coordinated the raid with the Texas Racing Commission and multiple law enforcement agencies.

PETA’s investigation also uncovered illegal racetracks in Georgia, which led to animal cruelty charges against six jockeys and a felony commercial gambling charge against an on-track bookmaker. Five of the jockeys who face charges in Georgia also race at licensed racetracks across the US.

Drugged, Whipped, Electroshocked

At the Rancho El Centenario bush track in Georgia, the animal rights organization claimed to witness trainers openly injecting horses with stimulants to make them run faster.

On six different visits to the track, PETA investigators collected 27 discarded syringes, which lab tests later revealed contained cocaine, methamphetamine, methylphenidate (Ritalin), and caffeine, sometimes in combination.

While racegoers would wager hundreds of thousands of dollars, trainers and jockeys would “drug, whip, and electroshock horses to try to win at any cost, the organization said.”

Jockeys whipped horses relentlessly — often over 20 times in a row — and other team members even struck the horses from behind as the starting gates opened,” according to PETA. “Jockeys and handlers also whipped and hit horses before races, during loading, and in the starting gates, as punishment and/or to control fractious behavior in the drugged-up horses.”

The PETA investigation in Georgia prompted the California Racing Board to ban its licensees, including jockeys, trainers, and owners, from participating in bush track racing. It’s the first state racing agency to do so.

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Wynn Las Vegas Hosts Heartwarming Scene in New Will Ferrell Doc

A heartwarming scene in “Will & Harper” takes place at SW Steakhouse inside Wynn Las Vegas. Former “Saturday Night Live” star Will Ferrell and his best friend, Harper Steele, make a stop there while road-tripping  across the US in the new Netflix documentary.

Harper Steele, left, road-trips across the US with his best friend, Will Ferrell, in a new Netflix documentary. (Image: Netflix)

Steele met Ferrell when both joined “Saturday Night Live” on the same week in 1995. Steele was hired as the show’s head writer.

The reason the road trip is Netflix-worthy is because Ferrell used to know Steele by the first name Andrew. Shortly before the documentary begins, he came out as transgender to Ferrell. So the two decided to explore the US, and their new relationship, as they test how accepting strangers are when they meet a transgender person.

Ferrell comes apart at the Wynn. (Image: Netflix)

For their dinner at SW, Ferrell dons a ridiculous disguise purchased earlier that day at a Las Vegas Goodwill store.

The disguise is intended to prevent the two from benefiting from celebrity treatment but also to siphon attention away from Steele, who is not yet comfortable appearing in public as her new self.

“This whole trip, obviously you’re taking the heat off me, and that’s just not the life of a real trans person,” Steele tells Ferrell over dinner. “But when I was in the Goodwill today, I just felt way more comfortable, and that’s a bit of a result of this trip.”

Their server, John, seems to have been tipped off to Ferrell’s presence long before the “Anchorman” star’s fake moustache detaches from his face, however.

“I’m David Abernathy, I managed Bette Midler for a little while, and Air Supply,” Ferrell introduces himself to John, who smiles a little too widely.

After John disappears, Ferrell asks Steele: “Do you think John knows it’s me?”

Steele replies: “John is suspicious, let’s be honest.”

This dinner goes markedly better than one they had at another steakhouse, the Big Texan State Ranch in Amarillo, Tex., which led to Ferrell breaking down and apologizing on the car ride to the next town.

“I feel like I let you down in that moment,” Ferrell says through tears. “I was like, ‘Oh, shit, ‘We gotta worry about Harper’s safety.’… That’s where I just…”

“Will and Harper,” which also stars “SNL” album Wille Forte, Molly Shannon and Kristen Wiig, is currently streaming on Netflix.

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Woman Shot at Missouri Casino Garage, Fighting for Life in Hospital

A 27-year-old woman suffered life-threatening injuries after she was wounded Saturday in the parking garage at Missouri’s Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles.

Missouri’s Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles
Missouri’s Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles, pictured above. A woman was shot in a parking garage there. (Image: X)

The unnamed victim required surgery at a local hospital after she was shot in the neck at about 2:30 a.m., according to St. Louis, Mo. TV station KTVI.

St. Charles Police Department were alerted and rushed to the scene.

The victim, who was on the second floor of the parking facility, was able to reveal to officers the name of her shooter.

A short time later, Calvin Koong, 50, of St. Louis, was charged with first-degree domestic assault, first-degree kidnapping, and armed criminal action.

He remained in custody at the St. Charles County Jail as of late Saturday. His bond was set at $500K.

Police said he was the victim’s boyfriend.

Victim in Parked Car

Based on casino surveillance video, the victim was inside a car owned by Koong, according to Missouri TV station KSDK.

She was in the driver’s seat and the driver’s door was opened. The woman apparently tried to leave the vehicle. Koong pushed the woman back into the car and the two got into what was described as a struggle, police said.

She eventually was able to flee from the car. But a few feet away she fell down on the garage pavement after getting wounded.

Good Samaritans rushed over to help her and provide emergency first aid. They also alerted authorities.

Koong ran away, but was blocked from leaving the area because of a concrete barrier in the parking garage.

An Ameristar Casino security guard soon arrived and spotted Koong.

Confessed to Shooting

The guard apprehended the suspect. He confessed to the guard, “I shot her. I shot her.” Koong also later confessed to police officers, KSDK reported.

Officers arrested Koong. They also searched the suspect’s car and found a firearm. It was seized as evidence.

The case was turned over to local prosecutors. If convicted, Koong could be sentenced to prison.

Police didn’t reveal a motive for the shooting.

The victim was rushed to the hospital’s emergency room. No word on the victim’s condition as of late Saturday. Details on her injuries weren’t immediately released by police.

Charges could be upgraded if the woman doesn’t survive.

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Industry’s Responsible Gaming Investment Surges to $472 Million in 2023

AGA-reveals-responsible-gaming-spending-reached-a-new-high-in-23Recent findings from the American Gaming Association (AGA) reveal a dramatic rise in responsible gaming (RG) investments across the gaming industry. The research highlights that industry spending on RG programs has soared to $471.8 million annually, reflecting a significant 72% increase from $275 million in 2017. This rapid growth outpaces the increase in gaming revenues over the same period and underscores the sector’s expanding commitment to responsible gaming initiatives.

The study, conducted by a major international accounting firm, provides insight into how gaming companies are allocating these funds. Key areas of investment include customer service interactions, the development of responsible gaming programs, consumer education on responsible gaming, and research into problem gambling.

Key Areas of Investment

The research identified several critical areas where responsible gaming investments have been focused:

  • Customer Service Interactions: $135.4 million
  • Development and Maintenance of Responsible Gaming Programs: $122.4 million
  • Consumer-Facing Responsible Gaming Education: $107.7 million
  • Responsible Gaming Research and Support for Non-Profit RG Organizations: $31.8 million
  • Problem Gambling Supportive Services: $26.1 million

Joe Maloney, Senior Vice President of Strategic Communications at the AGA, emphasized the industry’s proactive efforts, stating, “This impactful rise in RG spending demonstrates the legal industry’s dedication to fostering a safe and informed gaming environment. Beyond the considerable taxes gaming companies contribute to fund responsible gaming and problem gambling resources, the industry also proactively invests hundreds of millions of dollars more to ensure our customers have the tools, knowledge, and safeguards to play responsibly.”

Steady Commitment Amid Growth

The significant rise in RG spending has come during a period of growth and expansion for the gaming industry, particularly in the United States, where sports betting and iGaming have gained rapid legal footing in various states since the 2018 repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). This shift has led to heightened regulatory scrutiny and increased demand for responsible gaming measures to ensure that consumers can engage in gaming activities safely and responsibly.

In response, gaming operators have increasingly channeled resources into consumer education and responsible gaming infrastructure. The AGA noted that investments in RG have outpaced industry revenue growth over the past seven years, underscoring a strong commitment to safety and player protection.

Ongoing Initiatives and Research

September’s Responsible Gaming Education Month (RGEM) 2024 provided an opportunity for the gaming industry to showcase its dedication to responsible gaming practices. During RGEM, stakeholders launched various initiatives, campaigns, and public outreach programs to increase awareness of responsible gaming.

Additionally, the AGA introduced a new tool to enhance these efforts: the Responsible Gaming Intervention Effectiveness Scale. This innovative research-based tool is designed to help academics, industry professionals, and policymakers evaluate the effectiveness of responsible gaming messages. Maloney highlighted the significance of these ongoing efforts, remarking, “Our industry’s commitment to responsibility once again made RGEM a resounding success. We look forward to seeing the work done throughout this past month provide a springboard for continued advancements in responsible gaming in the months and years to come.”

Future of Responsible Gaming

As the gaming industry continues to expand across the United States, more jurisdictions are adopting frameworks for responsible gaming. In the U.S., most legal gambling jurisdictions require that tax revenues be set aside specifically for responsible gaming and problem gambling programs, which may include treatment services, educational campaigns, and other supportive initiatives.

However, with the current state-by-state approach to responsible gaming, challenges remain in creating a unified national framework. Some federal lawmakers have introduced bills aimed at developing comprehensive RG policies. For instance, the SAFE Bet Act and the GRIT Act propose allocating federal gambling excise tax funds to RG programs and tightening regulations on responsible gaming advertising.

As responsible gaming becomes more of a priority in the gaming sector, both industry leaders and regulators are seeking ways to balance industry growth with player protection. The AGA’s study highlights how industry-wide investments are helping to achieve that balance.

Sources:

Industry Investments in Responsible Gaming Reach New High of $472 Million Annually, AGA Study Shows – americangaming.org, September 26, 2024.

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