Reuters – Gambling revenue in Macau rose 17.6 percent in August year-on-year, buoyed by a steady flow of wealthy Chinese punters to China’s only legal casino hub. August’s revenue of 30.7 billion patacas ($3.88 billion) was the second strongest figure this year, according to government data released on Monday. Analysts had forecast August growth in the world’s biggest gambling market to be up 17-19 percent. A Portuguese colony until 1999, Macau’s gambling revenues are closely twinned with China’s economy as more than two-thirds of its visitors coming from the mainland. Analysts are mostly bullish on Macau, citing low penetration among…

SBR Forum – British bookmaker William Hill (SBR rating A) is pulling out of China. As of August 19, all residents of China will have their accounts suspended. After this date, the players will be unable to use their accounts to access the sportsbook or any of the gaming rooms. Players will be able to request payment as normal through the “My Account” cashier. The move comes as no surprise. Under the Communist Party, gambling is illegal in mainland China. While it is technically illegal throughout the country, Macau overlooks such laws. Internet gambling, though, is illegal throughout China. WillHill…

From Gaming-Awards.com US Operators with casinos in Macau could face more scrutiny on money laundering following a report from a congressional advisory panel which says U.S. regulators should tighten up scrutiny of casino companies operating in Macau because of the risk of money laundering. The panel Commissioner Michael Wessel said there should be stricter scrutiny of Nevada-based companies that operate in Macau. He said regulators need to “go deeper.” Mr Wessel is a member of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, which was established in 2009 to examine implications of the trade and economic relationship between the two countries…