Okada Manila marked the start of its holiday celebrations on 14 November 2025 with its annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and the grand opening of its Christmas Carnival at The Fountain Foyer, bringing together VIP guests, media personalities and influencers for an evening filled with performances and festive décor.
The diplomatic temperature between China and Japan surged sharply after Sanae Takaichi — Japan’s prime minister — suggested in parliament that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute a “situation threatening Japan’s survival” and might warrant a military response. In response, China’s foreign ministry and its diplomatic posts issued a rare travel advisory urging Chinese citizens to avoid travelling to Japan “in the near term,” citing deteriorating safety conditions and provocative remarks by Japanese leaders.
On 17 November 2025, Sands China officially unveiled its “Sands Responsible Gaming Academy” as part of its broader Sands China Academy talent-development platform. The launch ceremony included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with University of Macau to strengthen cooperation in research, training and localised practices in responsible gaming. The new academy becomes one of eight specialised colleges under the Sands China Academy, indicating the company’s renewed commitment to embedding responsible gaming education across its workforce and community.
In mid-November 2025, Macau’s casino sector saw a modest pull-back in the growth pace of its gross gaming revenue (GGR). According to a note from Citigroup, industry-source data suggest that for the first 16 days of November, the GGR was approximately MOP 11.1 billion (≈ US$1.39 billion) — translating into a daily run-rate of around MOP 671 million (≈ US$83.7 million). This represents a moderate slowdown compared with earlier in the month.
Vietnam’s anti-gambling crackdown marked a high-profile milestone this week when the Hanoi People's Court handed down sentences to two former provincial officials for their roles in a sprawling illegal gambling ring. The case reportedly involved more than US$106 million in bets placed under false foreign names at a luxury hotel-casino in Hanoi. Among those convicted was Ho Dai Dung, the ex-Vice Chairman of the Phu Tho Provincial People’s Committee, who was sentenced to 3 years 6 months in prison.
Author: Janice Chew • Wednesday, 19/11/2025
