GGR Asia – Singaporeans are the world’s highest spenders on gambling, shows a new research by consultancy Global Betting and Gaming Consultants. Singaporeans spend on average US$1,376 per head on gambling a year, the results show. The Lion City topped previous leader Australia. Australians’ global gambling spend per capita currently stands at US$961. The figures cover all types of gambling, from casino to internet gambling to lotteries. The results, featured in the latest edition of the Global Gambling Report issued by Global Betting and Gaming Consultants, put Canada in third place with a spend of US$494 per capita. Hong Kong comes…

SCMP – Hong Kong police are launching a month-long operation against illegal soccer betting in the run-up to the World Cup. Working in conjunction with Interpol in nine other countries, local police are coordinating efforts to eliminate the multimillion-dollar problem. Police in the city also say they are being thwarted in attempts to stamp out illegal soccer betting as most syndicates operate online, on the mainland and offshore. Superintendent Dan Ng Wai-hon, from the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau, said yesterday that criminals had moved to the mainland and regions such as South America and Taiwan since local authorities got…

Reuters – Tokyo Governor Yoichi Masuzoe on Friday said developing a casino was not a priority for the city and urged more debate about potential problems like money laundering that could arise should casinos be legalised in Japan. The governor has said little about the issue and investors, lobbyists and global casino operators have been waiting for him to clarify his stance, as Japanese lawmakers prepare to consider a bill to open up the country to casino gambling. “This is not at the top of my agenda. I don’t believe that you must have casinos to improve the economy,” Masuzoe…

Las Vegas Review Journal – Officials with high-flying Las Vegas Sands Corp. raved about last year’s financial results and were giddy about potential expansion in Asia during an annual shareholder meeting Wednesday. Sands is on track to add thousands of hotel rooms by the end of next year after it completes a St. Regis Tower and a Paris-themed casino in the lucrative Chinese gambling enclave of Macau, according to CEO Sheldon Adelson. The company also has its eyes on Japan and South Korea. “They present the most promising and meaningful development opportunities in the world,” Adelson said of the Asian…

Reuters – Philippine leisure and gaming firm Bloomberry Resorts Corp is in talks with a potential Japanese partner for what could be the company’s maiden overseas venture, its chief executive officer said on Thursday. The talks are in preparation for bidding for a gaming license if and when a Japanese gambling law is passed, Enrique Razon, Bloomberry CEO and the Philippines’ fourth-richest man, said at a stockholders meeting. He did not name the Japanese firm. “We’re now working on Japan,” Razon said. “If the integrated resort law passes in Japan this year, we will contend for a license.” Japan is…

Las Vegas Sun – Gov. Brian Sandoval isn’t sold on allowing Nevada to become the first state to permit betting on the presidential and other federal elections. “As I think through it, unless I’m convinced otherwise, it is not something I would support,” Sandoval said today. He described himself as “more of a traditionalist” when it comes to betting. “The state has done fine on sports and horse race betting and other events,” he said. The governor hasn’t taken a public position on the issue until now. State Sen. Tick Segerblom, D-Las Vegas, is pushing a proposal to open up…