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Ultimately, the operator says, the long-term success of an IR depends on “a broader mix of hospitality, entertainment, lifestyle and attraction offerings” rather than gaming alone.
Genting Singapore believes the key for Japan is not to replicate another market entirely, but to create a framework suited to its own circumstances. “Every integrated resort market is different,” the spokesperson says, adding that policymakers need to “maximise the economic benefits of IRs while minimising their potential social costs.”
Macau generated MOP293.3 billion ($36.3 billion) in gross gaming revenue in 2019, equivalent to 65.8% of its GDP. In 2025, GGR stood at approximately $30.9 billion, still accounting for around 59% of GDP.
About Gold Rush
That distinction also informs his view of the wider battle. Asked whether illegal gambling can actually be defeated, his answer is: “No, but you can make it very difficult for them.”
The objective, he argues, is to make it harder for operators to simply replace a blocked domain with another one. “If they knew there was a tool that would find those new sites as well, they might become more cautious.”
It is a philosophy that sits within a broader shift in the industry’s approach to the illegal market. Domain blocking remains important, but regulators are increasingly looking at payments, advertising, affiliate and acquisition channels and cooperation across jurisdictions.
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“The legislation mandated the regulation of the sector, which did not happen in the previous administration,” he explained. “We came into government with the sector operating for almost five years.
“We saw that they had entered football and advertising, and they have political and economic weight. Understanding that Congress would not prohibit the activity, we decided to put the brakes on and establish the rules.
“It’s not that I want to collect taxes because I need the money. I want to collect taxes for the sake of fairness: if a company sells cars, it pays taxes; if it sells drinks, it pays taxes. If it’s authorised to operate, it has to pay.”
