Global Casino BOOM

In an interview with Bloomberg, LVS Chairman Sheldon Adelson said that he had just met with India’s Minister of Tourism, telling him LVS would love to invest $12 billion in the country to build its very own Cotai Strip destination, obviously of course if the country wanted them.

The thought of a strip of casinos, or a single real Las Vegas style casino, in India is enough to get any casino exec’s mouth watering.  1 billion people with a fast growing economy and middle class with nowhere (I know, they have Goa, but have you ever seen those boats?) to gamble is really a dream come true for a casino company.  (more…)

Demographics of casino visitors | 25% casino players from Goa, vicinity

New casino licenses.  Poorly written so this one is hard to understand, but would still be big news. | Goa Government to Award More Off Shore Casinos

New casino arrives and its the biggest of all three | New casino on Mandovi

China gets 50 million tourists annually.  Tiny Singapore gets 7 million.  Huge, 1 billion plus population of India - 5 million.   India recognizes the problem and is trying to do something about it.

In this article, India’s Tourism Minister: (more…)

Stop the presses! MGM is apparently looking into India to build a casino resort. This is the first time I’ve seen this, and if its true, it would be big, big news and could shake up the gaming industry as India and its billion people open their porte cochere to billion dollar Las Vegas style casino resorts.

According to CNN.com: (more…)

There is no national ban on casino gambling in India.  In fact, the state of Goa does have casino gambling and passed an expansion last year.  If there will ever be a big  boom in India’s casino industry, it will need to be done at the state level.

Asked if India was considering opening casinos to promote tourism, Ms Soni (Tourism Minister) felt that it was not Centres call but how each state would view it.  It has to be a decision by each state, they have to take into account fallouts, public opinion etc, she added.  (more…)

An offshore casino with ‘no-limits’ tables, touted as the biggest in South Asia, will open in Goa next month.

Aboard a specially commissioned 70-metre long Panamanian vessel, costing $25 million, it will be operated by Creative Gaming Solution, a subsidiary of Mumbai-based Pan India Network Infravest Pvt Ltd (Pinipl), the promoter of the Playwin lottery.

“It will be the biggest offshore casino and will be an added appeal for tourists to visit Goa,” Pinipl managing director Amar Sinha told IANS.

The ship, appropriately named ‘Maharajah Casino’, will offer a regal ambience to professional and amateur gamblers out to try their luck at the jackpot. It will initially conduct operations from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and within a month offer round-the-clock services.

It will be anchored around 20 metres off the Mandvi river in Goa’s capital Panaji. Two boats will ferry the patrons to the offshore casino.  (more…)