Casinos in Asia facing the threat of Delta variant: What is open, what is not?

The outbreak of the pandemic has rocked the global casino industry in the past year and a half. Patient businesses, including casinos and other gaming establishments, are struggling to reopen amid the crisis, plus there is a long list of precautions and health guidelines that operators must adhere to.

While some have resumed operations to fight losses, the threat of the highly contagious delta virus has forced many gaming establishments to suspend operations again as authorities scramble to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Macau: Casinos remain open despite new local cases

The gaming capital of Asia has remained open to locals amid the crisis but has kept its doors closed to foreign tourists. However, restrictions on travelers arriving from certain parts of the neighboring country have been tightened due to the rise in reported cases.

Although its 41 casinos are still open, this does not mean that the territory is not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Just last week, orders were issued to close several entertainment establishments, including cinemas, theaters, indoor amusement parks, game centers, internet cafes and nightclubs.

Macau CEO Ho Iat Seng announced that the government currently has no plans to close casinos.

"Last time, we closed casinos for 15 days because there was an outbreak in a casino. But if we find any cases in a casino, we will close that casino immediately," he said, referring to the previous 15-day closure in February 2020.

Philippines: Manila casinos and poker rooms closed

The Philippines, one of the region's fastest-growing poker hubs, has not seen a live poker breakthrough for over a year. With new cases emerging rapidly, the capital Manila reverted to stricter restrictions on August 6 last year, which are set to last until the 20th. Dubbed "Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ)", the latest order requires everyone to provide only essential services and stay home. All casinos, including poker venues, will remain closed for now to accommodate the looming threat of the Delta COVID-19 variant.

Malaysia: Genting Malaysia remains shuttered since June

Photo-Genting Malaysia

Neighboring Malaysia is suffering from the same infectious disease as the Philippines, with as many as 18, 000 Cavid-19 patients a day, and the increase is increasing. Gentine Malaysia, the only casino operating company, stopped operating due to a national blockade on June 1, last year.

Temporary closure is still continuing, and this is the third time that complex facilities are closed. The first closing was for the first three months (March 18 to June 19, 2020) for the first time (March 18 to June 19, 2020) for 4 weeks (January 2021) It is 22nd to February 17).

India: Goa and Sikkim casinos closed, WPT and APT goes online

Photo Credi t-Big Daddy River Casino

Approved lan d-based casinos in Gore and Sikkim, India are also closed at this difficult time and cannot be used until the ban on going out at night is canceled. The ban on going out at night in Gore was issued in May last year, but has been extended several times. According to the latest notice, the ban on going out at night is valid until August 16, 2021. Meanwhile, Sikkim's casino was allowed to resume early last year, but was forced to close again, just two weeks later, due to the increase in new COVID-19 infected people.

On the other hand, poker players, on the other hand, do not need to worry that the worl d-famous brands, such as World Poker Tour and Asian Poker Tour, are currently focusing on online arena, so there is no live poker in this country. 。 The Apt Online Series, which is sponsored by Pokerbaazi. com, has just finished the 444 event series a few days ago, in ₹ 8, 07 lac (~1. 087. 820 USD) won the prize money. Meanwhile, this year's WPT Online India Festival is currently being held at ADDA52, with 25 Crore GTD prizes by the end of this month.

Singapore: Marina Bay and Resorts World open with reduced capacity

Lion City twins, Marina Bay Sands and Resort World Sentosa are both open, and the latter is operating with a reduced capacity until August 18. According to the RWS official website, the gaming table is limited to "up to two per table", and the bed from the resident player is "not accepted."

Singapore's other major casino Marina Bay Sands resumed in August last year after a tw o-week closure after the Cobid 19 complex confirmed in late July was detected. Since then, additional precautionary measures have been implemented as employees' inspection programs for employees have been reopened. The MBS has a high staff vaccination rate and is currently reaching nearly 90 %.

Vietnam: Everything closed – Country under strict lockdown

Photo Source: Crown Poker Club

Last year, Vietnam was a typical example of dealing with pandemic, but in Southeast Asian countries, infected people have rapidly expanded, and more than 9, 000 people have been infected a day. Currently, the country has been strictly alert, and all gambling facilities have been closed until the notification is followed. Corona Resort & Casino in Foucock is the only casino in Vietnam where local people can enjoy gambling, but has been closed on July 19 due to the government's announcement.

The first WORLD POKER TOUR TOUR DEEPSTACKS HANOI, held in April 2021 last year, had 1. 410 entries in 13 events and a total of 17 prizes. 866. 042. 000 vnđ (~774. 960 USD) won. Nguyễn văn Phinh, a local player, won the title of the main event, 842.~He won the title of the main event in the 000 (36. 522US) and won the player of the series champion.

South Korea: Casinos operational under reduced capacity

Photo Credi t-Paradise Casino

The Korean casino market is mainly targeted at foreigners, and the locals are limited to Ganien's in Ebara Land. According to the latest information, South Korea's capital Seoul is located under the strictest level of social distance, as new positive cases have begun to increase. Casino all over the country is still allowed to provide services to customers, but now the capacity has been reduced within 30-40 % of the pandemic. Ebara Land reduced the maximum capacity per day from 6, 000 to 1, 800.

Despite the fact that the casino is open during this difficult time, Pandemic has a major impact on the situation of live poker events held at local pubs and convention centers. Operators such as WCOP, J88PT, and APL have to minimize the provision of events.

Cambodia: NagaWorld still closed

Photo Credi t-NAGAWORLD

While hundreds of casinos are open in Cambodia, only a handful offer poker games, mostly in the capital Phnom Penh and the ever-changing seaside town of Sihanoukville. More consistent is NagaCorp's NagaWorld, the only licensed casino resort in the capital, which has been closed since early March after 11 people tested positive that month. The Cambodian government also announced a citywide curfew for 14 days until August 12 in an attempt to contain the spread of the outbreak that began in February last year.

Sri Lanka: Bally’s, MGM, Bellagio, and Stardust closed under further notice

Photo credit: Bellagio Colombo

Sri Lanka's four casinos in Colombo - Bally's, MGM, Bellagio and Stardust - remain closed until further notice due to the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Covid-19 restrictions have been tightened in Sri Lanka. The rapid spread of the Delta strain has been localized to Colombo, and unfortunately the return of live poker may take a long time.

With options extremely limited across Asia, casino and poker enthusiasts may want to stay away for the time being as countries deal with the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The region that once thrived on entertainment and gambling seems to have recently seen a dark light as restrictions are tightened again.

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