• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Sunday 20 July 2025
  • zh-hant 中文
  • ja 日本語
  • en English
IAG
Advertisement
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
IAG
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

Russian roulette

Newsdesk by Newsdesk
Tue 14 Apr 2009 at 16:00
slots_parlour1
4
SHARES
110
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

More tantalising snippets have reached IAG re: the fallout from the great Phnom Penh slot club market implosion

It seems a couple of Russian entrepreneurs were left mightily disappointed after the Cambodian capital’s slot clubs were placed under lock and key by the government in a crack down on gambling by locals.

Overnight they found that thousands of US dollars-worth of gaming equipment they owned or had leased to third parties was suddenly out of reach. And all this at a time when businesses everywhere need all the liquidity they can get.

An American company faced with this kind of problem would in all likelihood get on the phone to its lawyers or to the US Embassy to see if any arms could be (legally) twisted.

In Russia, the direct approach is more in fashion. Russian business people are by definition not shrinking violets. You need a thick skin, good political contacts and in some cases a set of body armour to make any headway in a post-Soviet economy.

IAG understands several of these demi-oligarchs hatched a scheme to snatch back their equipment at night from locked premises. The plan was about to swing into action—until it was pointed out that they would in all likelihood have to face the wrath of an armed and potentially dangerous group—i.e., the local police. The boys in tall peaked hats and sunglasses were already reportedly ticked off at the loss of a lucrative source of unofficial ‘tax’ from the capital’s gambling industry after the unfortunate accidental death of their commander.

IAG‘s sources suggest this was the sort of ‘law enforcement’ scenario that Russians—schooled in the world of business negotiation occasionally featuring armed back up—could understand. They decided to relent and try a different tack.

There’s a general rule in developing countries (sorry, ’emerging markets’) that the level of accountability of public servants is inversely proportional to the number of people in uniform actually on the streets. By that measure, the Russian traders were probably wise to hold off and seek a negotiated settlement for the return of their kit.

RelatedPosts

Cambodia’s Hun Sen expected to hand over to son Hun Manet after maintaining power in controversial election

Exiled Cambodian opposition leader alleges Hun Sen’s Thailand fight sparked by fear of losing casino, scam-based revenue streams

Sun 29 Jun 2025 at 17:49
Foreign tourists among those banned by Thailand from travelling to Cambodia to gamble

Foreign tourists among those banned by Thailand from travelling to Cambodia to gamble

Tue 24 Jun 2025 at 06:02
Donaco pays down US$8.5 million in debt as part of loan refinancing deal

Independent expert gives green light to shareholder plan to acquire Southeast Asian casino operator Donaco

Sun 22 Jun 2025 at 17:37
Thailand bans citizens from crossing Cambodian border to work in Poipet casinos

Thailand bans citizens from crossing Cambodian border to work in Poipet casinos

Wed 18 Jun 2025 at 05:31
Load More
Tags: CambodiaPhnom PenhRussiaslot club
Share2Share
Newsdesk

Newsdesk

The IAG Newsdesk team comprises some of the most experienced journalists in the Asian gaming industry. Offering a broad range of expertise, their decades of combined know-how spans multiple countries across a variety of topics.

Current Issue

Editorial – An inconvenient truth

Editorial – An inconvenient truth

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 15:21

It’s understandable that political observers, academics and members of the public in greenfield jurisdictions would express caution around the legalization...

Light & Wonder’s Siobhan Lane

Light & Wonder’s Siobhan Lane

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 15:19

Siobhan Lane, Light & Wonder’s highly experienced CEO of Gaming, speaks to Inside Asian Gaming about the company’s ongoing transformation...

Honesty is the best policy

Honesty is the best policy

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 14:13

The Thailand Entertainment Complex Roundtable brought industry stakeholders, politicians and supporters of the government’s Entertainment Complex Bill face to face...

Sri Lanka’s casino industry

Sri Lanka’s casino industry

by Shaun McCamley
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 13:36

Industry veteran Shaun McCamley delves into the complex history of Sri Lanka’s casino industry at a time when the country...

Evolution Asia
Your browser does not support HTML5 video.
Aristocrat
GLI
Nustar
SABA
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
NWR
Jumbo
568Win

Related Posts

DICJ keeps Macau casinos open during Typhoon Wipha for fear of guests going outside, border checkpoints shut down

DICJ keeps Macau casinos open during Typhoon Wipha for fear of guests going outside, border checkpoints shut down

by Ben Blaschke
Sun 20 Jul 2025 at 13:20

Macau’s gaming regulator – the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) – said Sunday that it had decided not to order the closure of casinos at the height of Typhoon Wipha due to concerns that such closures could encourage guests...

Light & Wonder sets new US$2 billion Adjusted EBITDA target for 2028

Light & Wonder granted Gaming-Related Vendor License in UAE

by Newsdesk
Sun 20 Jul 2025 at 07:33

Light & Wonder, Inc said Friday that it has been granted a gaming-related vendor license by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) of the United Arab Emirates, making it the 13th industry supplier to be granted a gaming-related vendor...

Hong Kong Jockey Club says racing turnover grew 3% to US$17.7 billion in 2024/25 season

Hong Kong Jockey Club says racing turnover grew 3% to US$17.7 billion in 2024/25 season

by Newsdesk
Sun 20 Jul 2025 at 07:31

The Hong Kong Jockey Club has reported a return to growth for the local racing industry with total racing wagering turnover in the 2024/25 Hong Kong season rising 3.0% to HK$138.85 billion (US$17.7 billion). This compares to a 4.5% decline...

Early Mover

Philippines SEC gives approval to Hann’s US$200 million IPO

by Newsdesk
Sun 20 Jul 2025 at 07:09

The Philippines’ Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the initial public offering (IPO) of Hann Holdings Inc – the holding company of Clark’s Hann Casino Resort. In a statement issued Friday, the SEC said it had “considered favorably” Hann’s...



IAG

© 2005-2024
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2024
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • English