In an attempt to increase the number of tourists that visit the country every year, Tahiland’s government has announced the construction of the first five legal casinos. Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said in a statement that last year 13 million tourists chose Thailand as their holiday destination and the government intends to attract a bigger number through gambling.

“Thai citizens who wish to gamble will be able to do so and in this way the Police will focus on other matters instead of fighting against illegal gambling,” Samak explained.

UK Culture Minister Gerry Sutcliffe has informed that gaming operators submitted proposals to build 125 smaller casinos and 16 regional centers, which added to the existing 144 gambling venues reach a total of 285. However, the number of sites established by the Government was only 150.

In order to avoid the restriction set by authorities, operators applied before the regulations came into force in September 2007. Nevertheless, Minister Brown has requested the evaluation of the 16 proposed regional casinos in an attempt to stop the gambling surge generated during his predecessor’s term.

January, the first month of the summer season 2008, did not leave a positive balance in the city of Mar del Plata in terms of gastronomy and rents. Nevertheless, Central Casino employees can say that they “broke the bank” at the beginning of the year.

The money collected by the employee’s fund in January reached a historical record for that casino. Each worker won near 3 thousand Argentinean pesos, thanks to the profits of 11 casinos in province, which represented a total of 8 million Argentinean pesos.

Sands Corp. recently announced that after many efforts and in spite of the limited credit market, it obtained several loans for more than $3.7 billion for the construction of the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. The casino is part of the company’s project to gain ground in Asia.

President and Chief Operating Officer of Sands William Weidner explained that the loans were possible thanks to the background provided by the strong Singaporean economy. The Marina Bay will be the company’s second resort in Asia, the first one, called the Venetian Macao, opened in China last year.

Negotiations are currently under way to promote the construction of a huge complex in Veracruz, Panama, that will include hotels, casinos, golf courses and a harbor for cruises. The complex, which will be named Panamarina, has the approval of Panamanian president Martín Torrijos.

Carlos Llamas, a Spanish businessman, said that his group is in active negotiations with the Government in order to obtain the permits necessary to start the construction of the complex that has been valued in 2,400 million dollars.

Victoria’s Premier John Brumby said this week a second casino in the province was not on the State’s Government agenda but could be a possibility. The construction of a second gaming complex would mean a challenge to Crown’s Victorian monopoly, which started thanks to an exclusivity contract signed by the Kennett government and that prevented other casinos from opening.

The Hyatt Regency Incheon Hotel and Casino, located in South Korea, has planned a very special evening for punters. On November 10th, from 6:30 pm to 11 pm, the Hyatt will host a Casino Royale themed event, for those who are fans of the movie and the famous undercover agent and also for those who simply want to enjoy a different night.

Dinner, which will consist of several gourmet dishes specially selected for the occasion, will be served among blackjack, roulette and baccarat tables operated by professional dealers.

The French tradition of toughly regulating gambling activities and casino games on its jurisdictions might be about to change. Its interior minister, Michele Aillot-Marie, said that he is partial to the liberalization of online gambling with a view to giving French casinos online presence.

Alliot-Marie also mentioned this should be done “without lowering the level of vigilance that operators and the state must maintain on the quality and offering of games.”

Eager to try the excitement of gambling and casino, thousands of Chinese flock to the Myanmar border to play in the casinos in that area, tired of the restrictions existing nowadays in the People’s Republic of China where betting is illegal and a lot of limitations stop people from trying out their luck in casinos in their own country.

Due to these restrictions, the possibilities of visiting a gaming table are virtually none for Chinese residents.

Aston PTE Ltd., a Singapore-based company, was the winner of the bidding for floating casino M/V Philippine Dream. City Revenue Election Officer Emir Abutasil, chairman of the Bureau that organized the bidding, said Aston submitted a tender of $1.3 million. The auction took place at the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s office in Lapu-Lapu City.

“The Bureau auctioned the floating casino after its owner failed to pay $1.4 million in tax liabilities,” Officer Abutasil explained.