Asia Gaming Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 32 Week of 15 September 2025
(1) Police arrest 100 people after detecting 62 cases of illegal money exchange in joint Macau operation
Thunderstorm 2025, a joint Macau-Guangdong-Hong Kong police operation, uncovered 62 illegal money exchange cases, arrested 100 suspects, resolved 85 fraud cases, and addressed 14 money laundering offenses.
(2) Melco proposes new notes offering, looking to redeem outstanding 2026 notes
Melco Resorts Finance plans a US$500 million senior notes offering to redeem 2026 notes, aiming to maintain leverage neutrality and enhance liquidity, supported by strong 2025 gaming revenue growth.
(3) Cryptocurrency payments, smart table rollout across all games among technology innovations being planned at Wynn Al Marjan Island
Wynn Al Marjan Island will pioneer smart gaming tables and cryptocurrency payments, aiming to redefine luxury gaming in the UAE with innovative technology and personalized customer experiences by 2025.
(4) Hong Kong racing secures continued broadcast on Australia’s Racing.com
Hong Kong racing will continue on Racing.com until season’s end under revised terms, resolving fixed odds betting concerns. The partnership boosts commingled bet turnover, with further talks planned for 2026-27.
(1) Police arrest 100 people after detecting 62 cases of illegal money exchange in joint Macau operation
(Photo Credit: Inside Asian Gaming)
Police from Macau, Guangdong and Hong Kong detected 62 cases of illegal money exchange and apprehended around 100 people suspected of being part of money exchange gangs as part of a month-long joint operation codenamed “Thunderstorm 2025”.
Authorities said that the operations comprised 625 targeted crackdowns and patrols during the month of August on casinos, entertainment venues, nightclubs and key surrounding areas. These detected multiple gambling-related offences, including 29 cases of illegal lending for gambling purposes, resulting in the apprehension of 41 individuals. Subsequently, 62 cases of illegal gambling-related money exchange involving “money exchange gangs” were uncovered, leading to the arrest of 100 suspects.
Beyond money exchange, the operation resolved 85 fraud cases, apprehending 100 individuals, and addressed 14 money laundering offenses, resulting in 16 arrests. A total of 405 individuals implicated in various criminal cases faced compulsory measures or sentencing after referral to judicial authorities, with 13 remanded in custody and one receiving immediate imprisonment.
News Source: https://asgam.com/2025/09/15/police-arrest-100-people-after-detecting-62-cases-of-illegal-money-exchange-in-joint-macau-operation/
(2) Melco proposes new notes offering, looking to redeem outstanding 2026 notes
(Photo Credit: Inside Asian Gaming)
Melco Resorts Finance Limited, a subsidiary of Melco Resorts & Entertainment operating City of Dreams Macau, Altira Macau, and Mocha Clubs, has announced plans for an international offering of senior notes. The initiative aims to redeem all outstanding 5.250% senior notes due in 2026. While the pricing, interest rate, and terms of the new notes are yet to be finalized, CBRE Credit Research estimates the issuance will be approximately US$500 million, with maturity extending beyond the 2032 Macau gaming concession expiration. According to CBRE analyst Colin Mansfield, the offering is expected to be leverage-neutral but slightly dilutive to free cash flow due to the low coupon rate of the notes being refinanced.
The new senior notes will rank equally with Melco Resorts Finance’s existing and future senior indebtedness, and any additional proceeds from the offering are anticipated to reduce the company’s US$1.56 billion outstanding revolving credit balance, enhancing liquidity. Melco’s maturity schedule is well-structured, with no significant repayments due until 2027, providing financial flexibility. The offering is paired with a conditional cash tender offer to repurchase the 2026 notes, contingent on raising sufficient funds through the new notes issuance, which remains subject to market conditions and investor interest.
Moody’s recently projected that Melco’s operating leverage will improve, decreasing from 6.7x as of June 30, 2025, to approximately 5.4x in 2026, driven by a 16.2% year-on-year gaming revenue increase to US$1.1 billion in Q2 2025.
News Source: https://asgam.com/2025/09/15/melco-proposes-new-notes-offering-looking-to-redeem-outstanding-2026-notes/
(3) Cryptocurrency payments, smart table rollout across all games among technology innovations being planned at Wynn Al Marjan Island
(Photo Credit: Inside Asian Gaming)
Wynn Al Marjan Island, a US$5.1 billion integrated resort in the UAE, plans to introduce cutting-edge technology, including smart gaming tables across 80–85% of its gaming areas, making it the first casino globally to implement this extensively. David Patent, Executive Vice President of Gaming Operations, highlighted during the SBC Summit in Lisbon that these tables, proven in Singapore and Macau, enhance bet accuracy, game speed, and security against counterfeit chips, while improving accounting efficiency. The resort also aims to accept cryptocurrencies, pending regulatory approval from the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), to ensure financial transparency and enhance customer experience with real-time alerts for hotel, dining, and valet services.
The resort’s technology-driven approach includes real-time marketing offers tailored to customer needs, leveraging a new data model for a comprehensive understanding of guest interactions. This “360-degree view” enables personalized experiences, unhindered by legacy systems, positioning Wynn Al Marjan as a leader in luxury and innovation. GCGRA CEO Kevin Mullally supports this vision, encouraging operators to prioritize entertainment and innovation over restrictive regulations. With 14 gaming-related vendor licenses issued, the UAE’s regulatory framework is designed to adapt to technological advancements, ensuring safety and customer protection while fostering creativity in game design.
Mullally emphasized the UAE’s transformative potential in redefining global gaming, driven by its ambitious long-term plans and high quality of life. Unlike traditional gaming destinations, the UAE’s appeal lies in its holistic vision, integrating arts, architecture, and tourism. Wynn, the only operator with a Land-based Gaming Facilities License, is poised to set a new standard for luxury integrated resorts. By prioritizing technology and customer-centric innovation, Wynn Al Marjan Island aims to elevate the global gaming industry, aligning with the UAE’s broader goals outlined in its Vision 2031 and Centennial 2071 plans.
News Source: https://asgam.com/2025/09/18/cryptocurrency-payments-smart-table-rollout-across-all-games-among-technology-innovations-being-planned-at-wynn-al-marjan-island/
(4) Hong Kong racing secures continued broadcast on Australia’s Racing.com
(Photo Credit: Asia Gaming Brief)
The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) has secured an agreement to continue broadcasting Hong Kong horse racing on Australia’s Racing.com platform until the end of the current season, under revised but unspecified terms. Richard Cheung, HKJC’s executive director, confirmed that discussions with Racing.com addressed concerns over fixed odds betting promotions, particularly by CrownBet, which violated the partnership’s spirit and threatened HKJC’s interests. The resolution ensures broadcasts align with HKJC’s stance against promoting fixed odds operators, safeguarding the integrity of their agreement.
The partnership aims to expand the global reach of Hong Kong racing and boost turnover from commingled bets placed through TABCorp, which feeds into Hong Kong’s totalisator pools, unlike bets with CrownBet, from which HKJC earns no revenue. Tensions arose when CrownBet’s heavy promotion during an initial broadcast led Sky Channel, TABCorp’s owner, to block Hong Kong racing on one of Racing.com’s platforms, escalating concerns and prompting fears of terminating the deal.
Racing Victoria Chairman David Moodie’s intervention was pivotal in preserving the partnership, allowing broadcasts to continue for the remaining nine meetings of the season. Further discussions are planned before the 2026-27 season to clarify expectations and strengthen the collaboration. This resolution maintains Hong Kong racing’s visibility in Australia while addressing HKJC’s concerns about betting integrity and revenue streams.
News Source: https://agbrief.com/news/hong-kong/16/09/2025/hong-kong-racing-secures-continued-broadcast-on-australias-racing-com/
