American Poker News

Macau Marches On…………..

The Chinese territory of Macau shows no sign of any slowdown in its monthly and yearly

growth. It’s monthly revenue broke through the $3 billion barrier last month, with the help of the opening of the gigantic Galaxy Cotai. Revenues were 42% higher than in May 2010.

The Galaxy is the first of what is likely to be a new generation of casino resorts in Macau - it offers far more for the non-gambler than just shopping centres, bars and restaurants. A wave pool and artificial beach provide entertainment for families and those taking a break from the casinos.

The future is definitely bright for Macau but there is always the lingering suspicion that a change of policy on mainland China might stick a spanner in the works. Occasional rumours of visa restrictions on Chinese citizens (who make up the majority of punters) still make the operators nervous but it seems unlikely the Chinese would want to put a stop to this particular cash cow.

…….and Vegas Recovers Slightly

While Macau is clearly the dominant global casino destination, there are at last some signs that Las Vegas is starting to recover from the effects of the economic downturn. This statement is not based on revenue figures, it’s based on how well the various publicly listed companies stocks are performing.

Wynn Resorts Ltd and MGM Resorts International Ltd both saw modest stock gains which one could attribute to their presence in Macau. However Ameristar Casinos, a listed company which has no overseas presence saw a percentage increase greater than Wynn and MGM combined.

Rich Muny Commits to PPA

The Poker Players Alliance. the body which is currently the driving force behind the

campaign to legalise online gaming in the U.S. has appointed Rich Muny as Vice President of Player Relations. Muny has long been associated with the PPA but as an unpaid representative.

There has been some dissatisfaction between the hierarchy and the general members since Black Friday and appointing Muny is way to place an already trusted representative at the heart of the organisation. It is thought he will attempt to communicate more effectively between the top tier of the organisation and the members.

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