Asia Gaming Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 34 Week of 29 September 2025
(1) Mocha Kuong Fat in Macau closes, but operator hopes to maintain three more
Macau’s slot clubs continue to close, with the most recent being the Mocha Kuong Fat, located in the NAPE district on the Macau peninsula.
(2) Hokkaido weighs casino comeback as Tomakomai, Kushiro show interest
Hokkaido revives casino integrated resort plans after 2019 halt, with Tomakomai and Kushiro leading interest; survey follows Osaka’s approval, eyeing national expansion by 2027 amid environmental concerns.
(3) NUSTAR resumes gaming, hotel operations after pause following powerful Cebu earthquake
Cebu’s 6.9 quake killed 69+, damaged sites; NUSTAR resumed operations October 1 after checks. Tourism Secretary Frasco coordinated aid, focusing on recovery amid infrastructure fallout.
(4) Easing money flow constraints emerges as key driver for Macau gaming growth: Seaport
Macau gross gaming revenue (GGR) to grow 8.7% in 2025, driven by eased money flows; October up 13% YoY. Risks include economic woes, but 7% growth projected through 2027.
(1) Mocha Kuong Fat in Macau closes, but operator hopes to maintain three more
(Photo Credit: Asia Gaming Brief)
Macau’s slot club, the Mocha Kuong Fat, located in the NAPE district on the Macau peninsula, officially closed at 11:59 on September 24th, after indications from authorities earlier this week that both the slot club and the satellite operation Casino Grand Dragon (also operated under Melco) would be closing.
The company had informed in June that three Mocha Clubs and their only satellite casino would be shuttering. The SAR’s gaming regulator, the DICJ, noted that the closure had gone in line with the ‘expected procedures’, being coordinated by the body and other departments. The gaming operator is now shifting its relevant gaming machines from the venue to its three properties throughout Macau – City of Dreams, Studio City and Altira.
While the closure of Macau’s satellite casinos by year-end has been largely celebrated by analysts – giving operators the chance to relocate their tables to more profitable locations – the closure of the slot clubs has garnered little notice. Melco had previously indicated that it intended to maintain three of its Mocha Club operations – at Mocha Inner Harbor, Mocha Hotel Sintra and Mocha Golden Dragon, hoping to operate beyond December 31st.
News Source: https://agbrief.com/news/macau/25/09/2025/mocha-kuong-fat-in-macau-closes-but-operator-hopes-to-maintain-three-more/
(2) Hokkaido weighs casino comeback as Tomakomai, Kushiro show interest
(Photo Credit: Asia Gaming Brief)
Nearly six years after Governor Naomichi Suzuki halted earlier plans due to environmental and timing issues, Hokkaido is reviving discussions on hosting an integrated resort (IR) with a casino. In August 2025, the prefectural government surveyed municipalities for interest, amid Japan’s slow casino rollout—only Osaka’s MGM Resorts-Orix project (opening 2030) has been approved so far, despite initial aims for three IRs. Governor Suzuki noted shifted circumstances, viewing an IR as a tourism and investment driver, but stressed addressing environmental concerns and gambling addiction. Any bid requires municipal and gubernatorial approval before national review, a multi-year process with no guarantees.
Tomakomai, a port city in Southern Hokkaido near New Chitose Airport, leads as frontrunner, with Mayor Hirofumi Iwakura reaffirming positive interest based on its infrastructure and tourism potential. The city advanced a 2019 proposal but withdrew; now, it’s restructuring efforts to attract private investment. Kushiro, in eastern Hokkaido, also signaled support, with Mayor Hidenori Tsuruma proposing a resort near Lake Akan to boost tourism, potentially involving local Ainu communities in line with global Indigenous gaming models. Hakodate, while interested, is only gathering information without firm plans, citing scale limitations.
The survey reflects broader momentum, with Japan’s government eyeing two more IR approvals by late 2027, including possible Tokyo bids. Hokkaido’s economic federation backed the idea in June 2025 for tourism enhancement, but challenges like past opposition persist. This revival positions Hokkaido competitively in Japan’s gaming expansion, balancing economic gains with social safeguards.
News Source: https://agbrief.com/news/japan/29/09/2025/hokkaido-weighs-casino-comeback-as-tomakomai-kushiro-show-interest/
(3) NUSTAR resumes gaming, hotel operations after pause following powerful Cebu earthquake
(Photo Credit: Inside Asian Gaming)
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off Cebu, the Philippines, on October 1, 2025, killing at least 69 people and causing building collapses, with the death toll expected to rise amid ongoing rescue efforts. The quake, centered 19 km northeast of Bogo City, damaged roads, bridges, over 100 tourist sites, and hotels across the province.
NUSTAR Resort & Casino, Cebu’s only integrated resort, temporarily suspended hotel, dining, and casino operations post-quake but resumed them on October 1 evening after safety inspections with local authorities. The advisory confirmed all guests, staff, and partners were safe, expressing solidarity with affected communities during recovery.
The Department of Tourism, led by Secretary Christina Frasco, coordinated immediate aid with national agencies, assessing ground zero and ensuring welfare for tourists and frontliners. Multiple Cabinet secretaries visited to evaluate needs, highlighting the government’s rapid response to the disaster’s widespread infrastructure damage.
News Source: https://asgam.com/2025/10/02/nustar-resumes-gaming-hotel-operations-after-pause-following-powerful-cebu-earthquake/
(4) Easing money flow constraints emerges as key driver for Macau gaming growth: Seaport
(Photo Credit: Welcome to China)
Seaport Research Partners forecasts robust growth for Macau’s gaming sector in 2025, with gross gaming revenue (GGR) rising 8.7% in USD (8.4% in MOP), driven primarily by eased liquidity channels for high-end players. The fourth quarter is expected to accelerate to 12.4% growth, compared to 8.3% in the first half. For October, GGR is projected at 13% year-over-year and 28% month-over-month, rebounding from September’s typhoon-disrupted 6% growth to MOP18.3 billion ($2.28 billion), which fell short of double-digit expectations by 6-7 percentage points. Year-to-date through September, GGR reached 82% of 2019 levels, up 7.1% year-over-year, with mass gaming at 118% of pre-pandemic figures (premium mass surging 40% above), while VIP remains at 28%.
Analyst Vitaly Umansky attributes the summer surge to simplified visa protocols and fewer money movement restrictions, calling liquidity openness the “strongest factor” for meeting high-end demand. Beyond 2025, Seaport projects 7% annual growth for 2026-2027, fueled by improving hotel occupancy, base mass recovery, sustained financial easing, and consumer confidence boosters like visa issuance, events, and potential US-China trade deals. Macau stocks have rebounded from April lows, with attractive valuations signaling opportunity.
Risks include renewed liquidity curbs, China’s economic slowdown, or large-scale restrictions impacting high-end spend. Overall, the outlook remains positive, positioning Macau for sustained recovery post-concession reforms.
News Source: https://agbrief.com/news/macau/02/10/2025/easing-money-flow-constraints-emerges-as-key-driver-for-macau-gaming-growth-seaport/
