CNBC – As another casino in Atlantic City, N.J., plans to close its doors, some believe allowing sports betting could help invigorate a struggling industry. Most states don’t allow wagers on sporting events, thanks to a federal ban. In Nevada, where sports gambling is legal, it accounts for $4.25 million of the $11.2 billion in statewide gaming revenues. ““Sports betting unregulated is a debacle. It’s horrible because it puts money into the wrong people’s hands,” said Bill Pascrell III of Princeton Public Affairs Group. “Why should Nevada and Delaware have a monopoly? … It’s a state’s rights issue,” he said…

Cyprus Mail – NICOSIA yesterday launched its big push to secure the licence for the island’s first-ever casino resort, and like each of the other main districts, says the capital is the only location that makes the most business sense. The Nicosia Chamber of Commerce (EVEL) yesterday met with the city’s brass and other players to exchange views on how to boost tourism where it was decided to set up a steering committee to actively pursue the licence. Mayor Constantinos Yiorkadjis and his predecessors were also at the meeting, which was held at the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry…

Reuters – A Japanese opposition politician on Thursday submitted a set of demands to ruling party lawmakers who are proposing a bill to legalise casino gambling, pushing back much-awaited parliamentary debate to next Wednesday at the earliest. The delay raises the risk of the bill failing to pass parliament this year, which would dampen the hopes of global casino firms keen to unlock a gaming market expected to be worth up to $40 billion a year in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Pro-casino lawmakers had aimed to begin debate in the lower house this week – before the end…

GGR Asia – Singaporeans are the world’s highest spenders on gambling, shows a new research by consultancy Global Betting and Gaming Consultants. Singaporeans spend on average US$1,376 per head on gambling a year, the results show. The Lion City topped previous leader Australia. Australians’ global gambling spend per capita currently stands at US$961. The figures cover all types of gambling, from casino to internet gambling to lotteries. The results, featured in the latest edition of the Global Gambling Report issued by Global Betting and Gaming Consultants, put Canada in third place with a spend of US$494 per capita. Hong Kong comes…

Reuters – Tokyo Governor Yoichi Masuzoe on Friday said developing a casino was not a priority for the city and urged more debate about potential problems like money laundering that could arise should casinos be legalised in Japan. The governor has said little about the issue and investors, lobbyists and global casino operators have been waiting for him to clarify his stance, as Japanese lawmakers prepare to consider a bill to open up the country to casino gambling. “This is not at the top of my agenda. I don’t believe that you must have casinos to improve the economy,” Masuzoe…

Las Vegas Review Journal – Officials with high-flying Las Vegas Sands Corp. raved about last year’s financial results and were giddy about potential expansion in Asia during an annual shareholder meeting Wednesday. Sands is on track to add thousands of hotel rooms by the end of next year after it completes a St. Regis Tower and a Paris-themed casino in the lucrative Chinese gambling enclave of Macau, according to CEO Sheldon Adelson. The company also has its eyes on Japan and South Korea. “They present the most promising and meaningful development opportunities in the world,” Adelson said of the Asian…