MGM China aims to head expansion into Thai market
Thursday 01 de August 2024 / 12:00
⏱ 2 min read
(Thailand).- MGM China has rolled up its sleeves to get a foothold in Thailand’s burgeoning gaming industry, confirmed William Hornbuckle, CEO and president of MGM Resorts International.
In a recent earnings call on MGM’s second-quarter performance, Hornbuckle said that “next month, myself and Pansy Ho will be in Thailand looking at that opportunity”.
“That is a venture that we’re interested in. And if we do that, we’ll do it through MGM China Holdings,” he told analysts over the phone.
The casino operator’s interest in expanding into Thailand’s US$15.1 billion (MOP121.6 billion) casino market was widely reported back in June.
Thapanee Kiatphaibool, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said that he had already had a meeting with Pansy Ho, the chair and executive director of MGM China.
According to brokerage CLSA, the Southeast Asian country could launch its first “entertainment complex” in five years’ time, alongside a 17 per cent gaming tax.
That is one year before MGM Osaka, another venture of the MGM brand in cooperation with Tokyo-based consumer credit company Orix, is scheduled to open on loans worth some US$3.4 billion.
“I just recently returned from Japan and that it’s moving along nicely. We are in the ground as we speak, and we hope to start pylons by May or June of next year with a target date still middle of 2030 for opening,” Hornbuckle said during the call.
In Thailand, casinos are currently prohibited, with legal gambling confined to state-controlled horse racing and the lottery.
However, illegal activities, including soccer betting, underground casinos, and unregulated lotteries, are widespread.
The popular tourist attraction in Southeast Asia has already set a target of at least 40 million foreign visitors for 2024 – almost the same as the pre-pandemic level – with half of it already achieved in the first seven months of the year.
Categoría:Casino
Tags: Sin tags
País: Thailand
Región: Asia
Event
SiGMA North America 2026
01 de September 2026
SiGMA North America Addressed Crisis Management in iGaming
(Mexico, SoloAzar Exclusive).- During SiGMA North America 2026, Rosa Ochoa, founder of the Blue Global Gaming platform and strategic advisor for gaming operators; Iliana María Pineda Echeverri, Chief Legal & Compliance Officer at Wplay.co; Iraid Rosales, Country Manager Mexico at Amusnet; and Elizabeth Maya Cano, Executive President of CORNAZAR, analyzed the key factors in managing crisis situations within the iGaming industry, with a special focus on transparency, communication, technology, and preparation.
Friday 25 Sep 2026 / 12:00
Affiliates and Acquisition: Keys to Regulated Markets in North America
(Mexico City, SoloAzar Exclusive).- During SiGMA North America 2026, Cristopher Guzmán Reyes, Head of Affiliates at Logrand Entertainment Group; Guga Júnior, influencer and slots expert at Scalar Partners; Andrés Gómez, Head of Latin America Go-to-Market Strategy at Admattic; Yambot Aguilera, Gaming and Finance Sales Director at Google; and Paula Gabriel Jiménez, Advertising Client Growth Director for Microsoft at Aleph, analyzed the state and provincial affiliate ecosystem in North America, as well as the acquisition challenges in regulated markets.
Thursday 24 Sep 2026 / 12:00
Jordi Sendra, CEO of Alea: "Latin America is one of our most important regions"
(Mexico City, SoloAzar Exclusive).- The CEO of Alea analyzes the company's participation in SiGMA North America, the potential of Mexico and Brazil and the growth opportunities in North America and Latin America. It also reviews the new features presented during the event, including the new sportsbook vertical and Alea Jackpot.
Wednesday 23 Sep 2026 / 12:00
SUSCRIBIRSE
Para suscribirse a nuestro newsletter, complete sus datos
Reciba todo el contenido más reciente en su correo electrónico varias veces al mes.
