Operations in the casino industry in Macau, according to Morgan Stanley Asia Ltd. reports, seem to have settled despite some good prospects from analysts. One of the signals that the experts warn is that Macau Junket operators are working more assiduously with foreign markets than in the local market.

For the analysts of Morgan Stanley, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines are the countries where they are showing the best performance of junket companies in Macau, the first of the countries is showing the highest growth. This means that more and more casino companies are willing to establish operations there, as Cambodia's gambling sector is growing rapidly today. What the experts explain is that, while junket companies are showing marked growth throughout the region, those based in Macao are doing it faster but not on their own soil.

It should be noted that junket companies are dedicated to making tours for high profile players and offer trips to various casinos. These companies are becoming increasingly important for operators in the region and according to a report from NagaCorp of Hong Kong, the four largest junket companies established in Macao contributed 70 percent of the total income of the high roller, the players who spend the most, in Macao.

In its report, NagaCorp points out that VIP gambling services are becoming increasingly competitive, mainly because junket service companies are attracting many high-profile players, which explains why companies in this sector are going to grow in profits and in number. The company explained that the aggregate revenues of foreign customers through Junket's operations accounted for 10 percent of its total revenues in 2018.

In this context, casino operations in Cambodia are growing thanks to the companies of Junket de Macao. For example, the Tak Chun Group, a Macao-based company founded in 2009 that offers everything from concierge services to ticket sales to shows and high-level gambling clubs, aims to open a club in the Cambodian NagaWorld complex. this month. Two other business groups from Macao, Guangdong Group and Suncity Group are setting up their businesses to start operating at NagaWorld in the coming months.

The business of junket companies works on the basis of agreements between individuals and casinos, where the former is presented as a promoter and receives a commission from the operator of the game room.

The agreement can also mean the rental of different rooms to private providers who carry out group tours through them and deliver a part of the income to the main operator. In general, the agreement between the junket and the operator includes transport, food and accommodation costs of the promoters.

The fact that Cambodia is the destination of these companies based in Macao is mainly due to the fact that the local government granted a total of 52 new casino licenses, which raised its number to 150 throughout the country by the end of the year. The growth is attributed mainly to an increase in the number of gambling companies based in Preah Sihanouk province. According to official figures, there was a 53 percent increase in the number of casinos licensed in the country compared to the previous year. The Ministry of Economy and Finance of Cambodia provided figures according to which the local regulator of casinos and gambling revealed that there are 88 casinos only in that coastal province.

But this growth of the gaming industry is raising some contrary voices in the country. Preap Kol, executive director of Transparency International of Cambodia, commented that the increase in the number of casinos throughout the country could generate, not only an increase in tax revenues and more jobs, but could also have some negative consequences in case of that local authorities do not provide due application of the law.

According to Kol, the biggest risk that comes hand in hand with the increase in the number of casino businesses is related to the problems of money laundering, because the rise of the casino business could make the country more vulnerable to instability social and drug trafficking.

Preap Kol is a recognized militant in the fight against corruption in his country.

Another of the jurisdictions where junket companies are growing the gambling market is Saipan, one of the Northern Mariana Islands, US jurisdiction. Late last week, the Commonwealth Casino Commmission (CCC) approved provisional licenses for three junket service operators to begin directing high-level players to the VIP lounges of Imperial Pacific Resort, owned by Imperial Pacific International. (IPI), the only place of play on the island.

Despite this approval, the three companies, Bula Mula LLC, High Tides LLC and Stellar Paradise LLC, are being considered so it may be some time before the impact of these new operations can be felt. CCC executive director Edward Deleon Guerrero said the three companies had not yet completed their documentation requirements and are still setting up local bank accounts and other legal issues.

Our investigation showed that the companies have no background and that they were formed by three Chinese businessmen, Hong Zhang, Jiming Dong and Hongyi Ma, who were also represented by the same lawyer, Michael Dotts, who manages the most important law firm in the islands. 25 years.