In the first half of 2025, the United Arab Emirates’ hospitality industry delivered a stellar performance, with hotel revenues soaring to AED 26 billion—approximately US $7.1 billion—a notable 6.3% increase compared to the same period last year. At the same time, occupancy levels averaged a strong 80.5%, signaling robust demand across the country’s major tourism hubs. These figures were underscored by Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE’s Minister of Economy and Tourism, as emblematic of sustained momentum heading into the second half of the year.
Macau’s gaming sector is poised for a powerful surge during the eight-day October Golden Week holiday, with Citigroup analysts estimating gross gaming revenue (GGR) could average around MOP 1.05 billion (approximately US $131 million) per day—paralleling the strong performance seen during May’s Labour Day break. This robust outlook stems from not only high visitor inflows but also the city’s strategic deployment of high-profile events aimed at extending the momentum well beyond the holiday period.
Jeju Shinhwa World’s gaming venue has officially rebranded from Landing Casino to LES A Casino, with promoter Shin Hwa World Ltd announcing the change on September 9, 2025. The rebranding reflects the resort’s renewed identity under its current company name and branding strategy.
A recent survey conducted by the Hokkaido prefectural government revealed growing momentum for developing an integrated resort (IR) with a casino on the island. Of the region’s 179 municipalities surveyed, 79 expressed support for such a project. Notably, Tomakomai and Hakodate—two key cities in Hokkaido—stood out by separately voicing their interest in hosting the resort.
The Supreme Court of India has agreed to take over all petitions contesting the recently enacted Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which received presidential assent on August 22. The law imposes a blanket ban on all real-money games and online games involving monetary transactions, a move that has sparked widespread concern across the country’s fast-growing gaming sector. Multiple operators and stakeholders have already filed legal challenges, urging the courts to halt the law’s implementation and reconsider its impact on both businesses and players.
Author: Janice Chew • Wednesday, 10/09/2025
