• About Us
  • The Team
  • Advertise with Us

The latest news on the gaming industry in Asia

() () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () ()
  • Home
  • Macau
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Rest of Asia
  • World
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • iGaming
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

Vietnam local gamblers would tempt Donaco: report

Sep 11, 2017 Newsdesk Latest News, Rest of Asia, Top of the deck  


Vietnam local gamblers would tempt Donaco: report

Asian casino operator Donaco International Ltd would be interested in building a new facility in Vietnam if the government there were to relax the ban on gambling by locals as has been mooted.

So said Joey Lim Keong Yew, Donaco’s chief executive, in an interview with The Star newspaper in Malaysia.

Last January Vietnam flagged – via government decree – a three-year trial programme for such business. The venues to host such a trial have yet to be announced. It is not currently clear that there would be a longer-term relaxation, even if the trial goes ahead.

Donaco – a firm listed on the Australian Securities Exchange – currently makes most of its gaming revenue by making use of Southeast Asia’s patchwork approach to casino legalisation. Its Vietnam venue Aristo International Hotel in Lao Cai, on Vietnam’s northern border with China, currently draws many players from the latter nation, where casino gambling is illegal. Its main Cambodian venue, Star Vegas Resort and Club, at Poipet, draws many customers from neighbouring Thailand, where casinos are also banned. In both Vietnam and Cambodia, locals are currently barred from casino gambling.

Mr Lim was quoted in the newspaper interview saying the completion of a new regional airport by the end of 2018 could help the firm’s existing Vietnam business, as the current nearest air hub to Aristo International – Noi Bai International Airport, in the country’s capital Hanoi – is a four-hour drive away.

The chief executive also said the firm would shortly – possibly in three to five years – undertake some real estate investment in Lao Cai.

“In the next few years, we will be undertaking redevelopment and urban regeneration where the original Aristo International Hotel was located, which faces the Red River between Lao Cai and Yunnan province, China,” he was quoted saying.

“The redevelopment of this prime piece of property and its adjacent property will see a potential gross development value of approximately US$100 million to US$200 million,” he stated.

In the interview, Mr Lim also indicated an expansion soon into online gambling including sports betting.

“We will be launching our online gambling platform next month via a partnership with another company, which has already developed the system. The partnership will be done following a revenue share model,” he stated.

The company had flagged via its annual report for the 12 months to June 30, 2016, filed in October last year, a move into online gambling, saying it had a licence that was “yet to be utilised”. In its latest annual report filed last month, Donaco said some of its new junket partners would “commence offering online gaming in September 2017″.

Mr Lim added in comments to The Star that Donaco also aimed to develop a social gaming platform by early 2018.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Donaco slims quarterly EBITDA loss as Cambodia op reopens
    Donaco slims quarterly EBITDA loss as...

    Aug 01, 2022  

  • World markets unlikely to host Macau junkets: Naga chair
    World markets unlikely to host Macau...

    Jul 27, 2022  

More news
  • Wenzhou court hears bet crime cases said tied to Alvin Chau
    Wenzhou court hears bet crime cases...

    Aug 12, 2022  

  • GEN Singapore 1H profit down, sales costs rise 34pct
    GEN Singapore 1H profit down, sales...

    Aug 12, 2022  


Latest News

Wenzhou court hears bet crime cases said tied to Alvin Chau

Wenzhou court hears bet crime cases said tied to Alvin Chau

Aug 12, 2022  

An intermediate court in Wenzhou, in Zhejiang province, mainland China, finished on Friday hearing three cases on illegal gambling alleged to have involved the boss of Macau-based junket brand...
Read More
GEN Singapore 1H profit down, sales costs rise 34pct

GEN Singapore 1H profit down, sales costs rise 34pct

Aug 12, 2022  

No-interest play deposits ok for casinos says Macau bill

No-interest play deposits ok for casinos says Macau bill

Aug 12, 2022  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day

”Southeast Asian junkets are competitively heading for South Korea recently”

Lawrence Teo

Chief operating officer of Lotte Tour, promoter of the Jeju Dream Tower resort



Most Popular

  • Wenzhou court hears bet crime cases said tied to Alvin ChauWenzhou court hears bet crime cases said tied to Alvin Chau August 12, 2022
  • Casino backers in top 10 of Forbes’ Philippines RichestCasino backers in top 10 of Forbes’ Philippines Richest August 11, 2022
  • No criminal action on claims Okada falsified TRLEI docsNo criminal action on claims Okada falsified TRLEI docs August 12, 2022
  • No-interest play deposits ok for casinos says Macau billNo-interest play deposits ok for casinos says Macau bill August 12, 2022
  • Jeju Dream Tower may host 1,000 foreign VIP players in AugJeju Dream Tower may host 1,000 foreign VIP players in Aug August 11, 2022
Copyright 2014-2022 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us