Bloomberg – Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS) and MGM Resorts International (MGM) are scouting sites for casinos in Japan as Tokyo’s selection to host the 2020 Olympics boosts confidence a law legalizing gambling resorts in the capital will pass. The International Olympic Committee’s decision fueled speculation Japan will approve casino gambling since the development would add hotel capacity and entertainment venues that could be used during the games. Casinos would also add jobs and draw about $10 billion in sales to bolster the economy. Tokyo’s potential as a gambling market is also drawing the interest of Caesars Entertainment Corp. (CZR)…

The News Service of Florida – Even as lawmakers wade into a major debate about the direction of gambling in Florida, regulators said Friday they will start rewriting rules that play a critical role in the operations of racetracks and jai-alai frontons. “In their current form, the laws regulating the industry are unclear and do not define many standards necessary to ensure the continued integrity of pari-mutuel wagering,” the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation said in a news release. “The draft rules are designed to clarify terms and maintain traditional pari-mutuel standards.” The announcement came as state lawmakers…

iGaming Business – French horse racing giant PMU has extended its partnership with the Swiss operator Loterie Romande through the signing of a deal that will see it supply its horse racing betting products to Swisslos, the German-speaking lottery that operates across six ‘cantons’ in the country. PMU will offer its horse racing tote offers throughout the 40 sales points operated by Swisslos, the odds and range will be identical as those offered by Loterie Romande, a mixture of domestic racing and international meetings streamed live by the French company’s Equidia Pro service. The agreement went live last week and…

The Chronicle – Sunshine Coast mayor Mark Jamieson say the council should have an open mind on putting a casino in Maroochydore, saying it will benefit tourism. The council yesterday unveiled plans for the redevelopment of Horton Park Golf Course to create a new heart for the Sunshine Coast. The unfunded plans include an international hotel, exhibition and convention centre. Speaking on the ABC, Mr Jamieson said the council should consider the arguments for and against a casino in Maroochydore. “Certainly if we want to appeal to the Asia-Pacific, particularly the Chinese market, casinos are seen by them as being…

Economist – Kabukicho, Japan’s biggest fleshpot, swarms over a crowded one-kilometre block of Tokyo. It is a gaudy patchwork of clubs, massage parlours and seedy hotels, a short walk from what is probably the world’s busiest train station. Hoodlums from Yakuza crime gangs tout illicit thrills from a well-thumbed menu of sex, drugs and gambling. Takeshi Iwaya, a politician, wants to pull gambling out of the seedy company it keeps in Kabukicho and put it into giant family-friendly casinos. He is lobbying for Japan to lift its ban on casinos. A share of Macau’s eye-watering gambling revenues is the goal….

Forbes – While the casino companies have been riding high on the success in Macau, Singapore remains a key market for Las Vegas Sands. (Read – Las Vegas Sands Revised Estimates And Outlook) According to our estimates, Singapore operations contribute more than 20% to Las Vegas Sands’ value making it far more valuable than the company’s U.S. operations. Singapore’s economy has been struggling in the past few years, but it has shown signs of recovering in 2013, and this is aiding Las Vegas Sand’s overall growth. While the recent recovery will boost the revenues in the near term, we believe…