Liverpool Echo – Liverpool city centre is officially one of the UK’s gambling hotspots. Research by the Campaign for Fairer Gambling has found that Williamson Square and its immediate surroundings has one of the highest densities of betting shops in the country. The 500 square metre area has the third highest concentration of any town centre with at least seven bookies, the campaign said. And city leaders say the area also boasts a number of payday loans companies and pawn shops. While traditional over-the-counter betting on horses and dogs is still big business for bookies, fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTS)…

Today – Australian gambling tycoon and Melco Crown Entertainment co-chairman James Packer said it would cost a minimum of US$5 billion (S$6.2 billion) to develop a casino and resort complex in Japan should the government legalise casino gambling. One of Australia’s richest men, MR Packer is visiting Japan as the country’s parliament is preparing to debate legalising casino gambling, a move that could create a prize market with a wealthy population and proximity to China.“I think realistically that (US$5 billion) would be the lowest possible number. I think the numbers will only go up from there, not down,” Mr Packer…

The Moody Report – Following the success of its 14 concept store locations in China, Zippo is now bringing the full retail concept to the US.  The US maker of the windproof pocket lighter and allied lifestyle products is set to open its first US-based retail stores in Las Vegas, at the Luxor Hotel & Casino in early May and the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino later this summer. The new store is a joint project between Zippo; its distributor in the travel retail market, Sourcing Network International (SNI); Luxor and MGM Grand. CITRA Inc, Zippo’s global duty free and…

Washington Post – A Northern Virginia couple who bet that they could get away with using doctored chips at Maryland Live has been charged, just weeks after another pair were charged in a similar fake-chip scheme, authorities say. Ngan S. Nguyen, 29, and his girlfriend, Dung N. Vo, 35 — both from Herndon in Fairfax County — were each charged with one count of felony theft, one count of conspiracy to commit felony theft and two other felony-theft-related counts. The charges were issued by the Anne Arundel County District Court Commissioner’s office, though neither Nguyen nor Vo has yet been served with a criminal summons….

International Business Times – ames Packer’s Asian gaming joint-venture Melco Crown wants to build a casino in Tokyo in time for the 2020 Olympics, according to The Australian. Japan is included in the company’s international expansions, along with Vietnam and South Korea, Todd Nisbet, the Crown executive leading the Japan casino bid, said. Other casino giants vying for Japan’s approval for the right to build and operate casinos include Wynns and Las Vegas Sands, among others. Japan, to boost its tourism and economy, intends to allow integrated casino resorts in regional cities including Tokyo and Osaka. “Japan is the biggest…

Dispatch – An illegal casino with 200 slot machines that masqueraded as a skill-games parlor has been shut down. But state regulators warned that similar, smaller businesses might still be operating in the state. An investigation by the U.S. Justice Department, the Internal Revenue Service and the Ohio Casino Control Commission resulted in three Canton-area people being charged with operating an illegal gambling business and money laundering. The government is also seeking forfeiture of $1.3 million and four automobiles. Charged were Jerry Warren, 70, of Canton; Tracie Warren-Pastore, 45, of North Canton; and Yabacushyanei Bennett, 45, of Canton. The feds…