Asia’s Gamblers Cheer Wave of Legalization, Pressuring Macau
- Thailand, Japan, UAE are looking at casinos to boost tourism
- China’s VIP crackdown forces Macau to expand beyond gaming
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In a sea change for the traditionally conservative region, some of the biggest tourism spots in Asia and the Middle East are moving toward building or allowing their first casinos, raising competitive pressure on existing hubs like Macau.
MGM Resorts International and Wynn Resorts Ltd. have announced plans for billion-dollar resorts in Japan — which has legalized casinos — and the United Arab Emirates, where talks about allowing gambling are gaining momentum. In Thailand, politicians are mulling a large gaming complex to rival Singapore’s famous Marina Bay Sands, pending government approval of such facilities.