On Empty Thoughts: Macau Casino Dealers Walk Off Job in Continuing La...

REBLOG> On Empty Thoughts: Macau Casino Dealers Walk Off Job in Continuing Labor Unrest:
Guerrilla Gamblers' Original Blog

---

Casino Dealers on Strike in Macau

At noon time of 1 Oct 2014, up to 300 dealers of led by the "Forefront of Macau Gaming" took sick leave collectively to demand higher wages and better benefits. The Forefront of Macau Gaming, headed by Leong Man Teng, is a labor union with members from six major casinos in Macau. "The vast majority of our team members have reported to work and are delivering their high level of service as usual," MGM China Holdings Ltd company said in a statement, the Voice of America reported.

Gambling Hub

As a pioneer in the legal casino business, Macau is a gambling hub for the Asian region. Mainland China constitute the 60% of the visitors. Gaming revenues account for nearly 90% of government revenues. From a fishing village Macau had transformed into the gambling captial of the world with 35 casinos and a population base of more than half a million living in an area of 31.3 km2. Macau is pushing to build eight new resorts in the next three years but will faces labor shortage problems due to the current rigid regulations that prohibit foreigners from working at gaming tables.

---

My Comments

With all the extraordinary they are reaping, they can't give their staff a bit of relief. This is shamefully not very Chinese mentality running a casino.

Jack of All Trades: Non-smoking Policy Chokes Macau's Casino

REBLOG> Jack of All Trades: Non-smoking Policy Chokes Macau's Casino:
Jack Omnitrade's Original Blog

---

Smoking Complements Gambling

The Ravel Casino in Atlantic City did not believe that smoking is a complimentary product for gambling. Macau is following this footstep to put this consumer preference to test. Market Watch warns investors in their 3 Oct 2014 report that strict curbs on smoking laid out in a recent statement by Macau's government information bureau will have a negative impact on share prices for casinos in Macau.

No Smoking Ruling

This recent announcement would completely ban all smoking in "mass areas," although some VIP lounges will still allow it. According to Barclays Research's latest forecasts the smoking rules are stricter than most economists had expected. Barclay initially interpreted the ruling to allow smoking at partitioned premium mass areas on the mass floor. "While previously we had expected just a low-to-mid-single-digit percentage impact to overall gross gaming revenue from the smoking ban (if premium mass areas can still smoke), we would now expect a higher mid-to-high-single-digit impact to overall Gross Gaming Revenue if smoking is not allowed in all premium mass areas as well," the firm said.

The Ravel Story

The Revel Casino opened in April 2012 and had struggled since it started operations. It started out by trying to achieve its niche market by branding itself as an upmarket resort-class casino. This posh concept of no smoking, expensive food and drinks did not appeal to the typical gambling crowd of Atlantic City. The $2.4 billion resort suffered badly from poor patronage. After operating for 10 months, it incurred a debt of $1.5 billion. It filed for bankruptcy on March 2013. In May 2013 the casino got out of bankruptcy by clearing $1.2 billion of debt in exchange for an 82% equity to its lenders. It is unfortunate that Macau had not learned from Ravel.

---

My Comments

Gamblers are mainly smokers. Since they command the economy in Macau, no smokers just need to cut them some slabs.

Carpe Diem: Seize the Day: States Use Gambling to Save Economy

REBLOG> Carpe Diem: Seize the Day: States Use Gambling to Save Economy:
Phil Andows' Original Blog

---

Gambling Addiction

Policymakers in USA is starting to see gambling as a panacea to be the cure for all economic ills but gambling addiction it the ugly side of the coin. USA Today is in the view that gambling states are addicted to easy money in its report dated 25 Sep 2014. The Editorial Board cited New Jersey are the prime example of the worst offenders in the world of gambling. "They are both addicts and pushers. They throw temper tantrums and upset settled policy when their fix of gambling revenue runs low."

Save the Economy

New Jersey began offering online gambling last year to bring in more tax revenue as Atlantic City casino revenue took a sharp dive. Since the revenue from the online gambling was not much of a help, the state will come up with more gambling products. Governor Chris Christie has given the green light for casinos and racetracks to offer sports betting. A federal judge will hear Christie's argument on Oct 6 as a 1992 federal law banned the practice in all but four states where it previously existed.

Gambling Expanded Widely

The good days are gone. Christie can't expect gambling to be the savior. New Jersey is no longer the gambling mecca of the East Coast. Adjoining states - Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware - have all opened casinos recently. As of 2012, America had 513 state-licensed casinos, plus 466 on tribal lands. With more players, it is obviously going to be less share for the same pie.

Gambling Destroys Lives

There is a deadly social cost for gambling. Compulsive gambling habits from 1% to 2% of gamblers are known to destroy lives. People lose their jobs, families and self-confidence due to heavy losses. A study done by Baylor University in 2011 estimated the cost of gambling ill at $9,393 per compulsive gambler per year. The state should explore alternatives instead of always relying on gambling to bail them out.

---

Veronica Glowsome Commented

It is like a gambit in chess. A small piece is sacrificed to gain advantage. The gambit here is 1% to 2% of gamblers who will turn into rotten gamblers.

My Comments

In democratic societies, the government will have to serve the majority.