A Chinese court in Shenzhen has tried 21 members of a transnational criminal group accused of running illegal casinos, fraud schemes, forced prostitution, and drug production in northern Myanmar. Authorities allege the group, led by Gay Saw Chain and Bay Hin Chin, built 41 fortified compounds in Myanmar’s Kokang region since 2009, providing armed protection for illicit businesses. Prosecutors claim their operations caused the deaths of six Chinese citizens and injuries to many others.
A Singaporean man is facing possible jail time after sending fake bomb threats to Resorts World Cruises following a casino loss of SG$2,000 (US$1,500). The individual, 41-year-old Neo Hui Ghim, used his own booking email address to issue the threats after disembarking from a cruise between Singapore and Malaysia in October 2023.
SJM Holdings is reportedly considering issuing $137 million worth of offshore bonds to finance its ambitious Hengqin project. The plan underscores the operator’s determination to diversify its portfolio beyond Macau’s traditional casino hub and align with China’s strategy of integrating Hengqin with Macau to create a broader tourism and leisure hub. By tapping international investors, SJM aims to secure fresh capital while signaling confidence in the long-term growth prospects of the Greater Bay Area.
Vietnam is set to broaden its experiment with local casino gaming, granting The Grand Ho Tram integrated resort permission to admit Vietnamese citizens under an extended five-year pilot scheme. Previously, only Phu Quoc’s Corona Resort & Casino was authorized to welcome locals, but with its trial ending in 2024, the government’s Ministry of Finance is pushing for Ho Tram to become the next test site.
Macau has ordered the temporary closure of all casinos from 5pm on Tuesday as Super Typhoon Ragasa approaches, with the city expected to raise tropical cyclone Signal No. 8 in the evening. Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai said the move is necessary to protect lives and property, marking one of the few times Macau has mandated a gaming shutdown since Typhoon Hato in 2017, which caused severe damage and fatalities.
Author: Janice Chew • Wednesday, 24/09/2025
