Wynn Resorts is stepping up its recruitment drive in anticipation of the 2027 debut of its integrated resort on Al Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah, marking one of the most ambitious hospitality developments in the UAE. The property—which will be the country’s first legal casino resort—already has dozens of job listings live, spanning multiple disciplines including hospitality, entertainment, wellness, food & beverage, technical operations, marketing, finance and more. The resort is being built with luxury and scale in mind: more than 1,500 guest rooms, dozens of restaurants and lounges, retail space, a showroom/theatre, spa, beach club and more.
Genting Malaysia is bracing for continued pressure on profitability over the near term. In a recent rating commentary, Fitch Ratings forecasts that the company’s EBITDA margin will remain “compressed at ~23% from 2025 through 2027,” driven by rising operating and payroll-related costs, particularly in its UK and US operations. These cost pressures stem from things like higher minimum wages, labour-union contract renewals, and increased national insurance contributions in the UK.
Hong Kong’s Legislative Council has formally passed the Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2025, legalizing regulated betting on basketball matches. The vote was overwhelmingly in favour — 77 votes yes, with just two opposed and two abstentions. Under the new law, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) will be the sole licensed operator for basketball betting.
Thailand’s political winds have shifted: with Anutin Charnvirakul ascending to Prime Minister, he has made clear that gambling will not be part of his economic toolkit. Anutin, long seen as a more conservative voice in Thailand’s politics, has rejected proposals that gambling—particularly casino legalization as part of “entertainment complex” bills—be used as a lever to boost tourism, attract investment, or shore up state revenues.
A South Korean court has partially sided with Kangwon Land Inc., the operator of the only casino in the country open to locals, in a dispute over how often and when payments should be made to the Abandoned Mine Fund. Under a December 2024 amendment in Gangwon Province, Kangwon Land was required to move from biannual to quarterly payments of 13% of its casino revenue under the Special Act on the Assistance to the Development of Abandoned Mine Areas. The first quarterly payment, based on its first-quarter 2025 gross gaming revenue of KRW 316.8 billion (~US$32.2 million), was due in May 2025 for KRW 44.7 billion. Kangwon Land challenged the change, arguing it imposed overly short notice and could cause a default under the tighter schedule.
Author: Janice Chew • Thursday, 11/09/2025
