• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Thursday 29 May 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

Macau poker rooms close as confusion reigns over China policy

Ben Blaschke by Ben Blaschke
Tue 8 May 2018 at 07:08
IEC “very, very close” to securing new home for PokerStars LIVE Macau
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Macau’s poker industry has taken a series of devastating blows this month with the closure of two poker rooms and the cancellation of a new tournament series in the wake of a recent crackdown on online poker applications by the Chinese government.

And there could be more pain on the way with the World Series of Poker – which held the very first WSOP China in Sanya late last year – seeking clarification amid rumors that the 2018 event could be cancelled.

In what is undoubtedly the biggest setback Macau poker has suffered in years, the popular PokerStars LIVE Macau poker room at City of Dreams – host of the Macau Poker Cup, APPT Macau and the Asian Championships of Poker – is currently looking for a new home after Melco Resorts & Entertainment chose not to renew its contract. Despite the recent Macau Millions main event attracting a record field of 2,499 players, staff were seen breaking down and removing poker tables just a day after the event finished – bringing to an end PokerStars’ five-year tenure at City of Dreams after first moving there in 2013.

Neither PokerStars nor Melco Resorts replied to requests for comment, however it is believed that a re-imagining of the main gaming floors ahead of City of Dreams’ upcoming Phase II launch is behind the decision. Melco Resorts recently relocated former Studio City Property President David Sisk to City of Dreams to overhaul mass and premium mass.

Inside Asian Gaming has been told that PokerStars spoke briefly with neighbouring MGM COTAI about a possible partnership but that prospect was quickly scuppered.

Meanwhile, Galaxy Macau has also shut down its poker room. The modest eight table room – used exclusively for cash games rather than tournaments – was refurbished and re-launched just over a year ago but failed to gain any real traction with the broader poker community.

Meanwhile, a new event scheduled for the week of 16 to 20 May, the International Poker Tour Macau, has been cancelled as a direct result of China’s poker crackdown.

Organizer Alisports released a statement last week informing players that the event had been postponed “after careful consideration.” IPT Macau’s business model was largely centered around Chinese players qualifying for the tournament via the Alibaba poker app.

In April, Chinese authorities announced that poker would no longer be recognized as a competitive sport and simultaneously banned the promotion of Texas Hold’em via social media applications.

The ban will require all apps offering any form of social poker game to be shut down and removed from app stores by 1 June. Social media channels such as WeChat will also be banned from promoting any form of Texas Hold’em product.

Given that poker in China largely exists via these social media apps, the ban was always expected to be a devastating blow for players and the companies that enable them. Among the companies likely to be hit hardest are Ourgame – owners of the World Poker Tour – and Boyaa Interactive, whose Boyaa Poker Tour relies heavily on players qualifying via its app.

Boyaa’s 2017 Annual Report indicated a 73% increase in “average revenue per paying user” via its mobile Texas Hold’em Games – the biggest jump across any of the company’s segments. It is understood that Texas Hold’em games account for up to 70% of Boyaa’s interactive revenue.

Likewise, Tencent was quick to remove its Tencent Poker app from app stores after the announcement last month, however rumors circulating on Chinese social media this week that WSOP China has also been cancelled are wide of the mark.

The WSOP signed a historic 10-year partnership agreement with Tencent in 2017 that saw them host the inaugural WSOP China at the Shangri-La in Sanya in December – a series of 12 “free to play” events in which all players qualified via the Tencent app.

A WSOP spokesman confirmed to IAG on Monday that there had been no announcement made on the future of WSOP events in China but added, “We’re all waiting for clarity from the Chinese government to see what the impact may be.”

The WSOP and Tencent had announced last year their intention to host similar events to the inaugural WSOP China in major cities around the country.

In the meantime, Macau is currently left with just one regular tournament poker venue – the Macau Billionaire Poker Room – which last week hosted the APT Macau Championships 2018 at Babylon Casino.

RelatedPosts

On the brink

On the brink

Thu 29 May 2025 at 13:27
Macau GGR rises 43.7% year-on-year to MOP$86.86 billion in 2021

Moody’s maintains investment-grade rating for Macau as fiscal reserves climb to US$77 billion

Thu 29 May 2025 at 05:23
Criminalization of illegal money exchange linked to 61.5% year-on-year increase in Macau’s gaming-related crime in 1Q25

Criminalization of illegal money exchange linked to 61.5% year-on-year increase in Macau’s gaming-related crime in 1Q25

Wed 28 May 2025 at 13:40
Macau GGR comes in at MOP$18.9 billion in April, up 1.7% year-on-year

Citi: Macau GGR jumped 16% week-on-week to US$85 million per day

Tue 27 May 2025 at 19:08
Load More
Share8Share1
Ben Blaschke

Ben Blaschke

A former sports journalist in Sydney, Australia, Ben has been Managing Editor of Inside Asian Gaming since early 2016. He played a leading role in developing and launching IAG Breakfast Briefing in April 2017 and oversees as well as being a key contributor to all of IAG’s editorial pursuits.

Current Issue

Editorial – Foreigner-only casinos: Seize the day

Editorial – Foreigner-only casinos: Seize the day

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 29 May 2025 at 13:38

I was recently asked by someone working at a foreigner-only casino for my thoughts on the outlook for the Asian...

On the brink

On the brink

by Pierce Chan
Thu 29 May 2025 at 13:27

The transition period for Macau’s 11 satellite casinos is set to expire at the end of this year, after which...

A moral defense of gambling

A moral defense of gambling

by Andrew Russell
Wed 28 May 2025 at 18:19

Economist Andrew Russell explores the differences between community benefit and in-principle arguments for the existence of a legal gambling industry...

Face to face

Face to face

by Ben Blaschke
Wed 28 May 2025 at 18:08

Konami caught the eye at the recent G2E Asia show in Macau with its SYNK Vision Tables, which utilize facial...

Evolution Asia
Aristocrat
GLI
Mindslot
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
Nustar
Jumbo

Related Posts

Casino Filipino venues to receive first delivery of almost 2,000 new slot machines by mid-September

PAGCOR board, including Chairman Tengco, tender courtesy resignations following Presidential call

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 29 May 2025 at 14:15

The Board of Directors of Philippine gaming regulator PAGCOR, including Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco, have tendered courtesy resignations this week in response to a directive from Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Tengco, along with PAGCOR President and COO Wilma...

More details emerge on Thailand Entertainment Complex Roundtable including real-time transcription and translation, simultaneous interpretation, venue information and Thai media coverage

More details emerge on Thailand Entertainment Complex Roundtable including real-time transcription and translation, simultaneous interpretation, venue information and Thai media coverage

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 29 May 2025 at 06:46

The Thailand Entertainment Complex Roundtable (TECR) – a groundbreaking event bringing together international integrated resort operators Galaxy, Melco and Wynn as well as major figures who have opposed the introduction of entertainment complexes (ECs) to Thailand – will truly be...

Ainsworth flags 1H25 revenue growth on Australian market strength but Novomatic takeover facing opposition by family of founder

Ainsworth chair says higher R&D investment necessary to boost global market competitiveness

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 29 May 2025 at 05:49

The chairman of Australian slot machine supplier Ainsworth Game Technology says the company must continue to increase its investment into research and development (R&D) in order to maintain global competitiveness and gain market share. Danny Gladstone cited R&D as Ainsworth’s...

Macau GGR rises 43.7% year-on-year to MOP$86.86 billion in 2021

Moody’s maintains investment-grade rating for Macau as fiscal reserves climb to US$77 billion

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 29 May 2025 at 05:23

Moody’s Ratings has affirmed the local and foreign currency issuer rating of the Macao SAR Government at Aa3 with a negative outlook, citing the jurisdiction’s strong fiscal reserves which have grown to MOP$624 billion (US$77.2 billion) as of March 2025....



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