TLDR
- AGA CEO Bill Miller says the US integrated resort model continues to spread across Asia.
- Macau’s six casino concessionaires now include dining, retail, and entertainment beyond gambling.
- Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa follow the same approach.
- New projects are planned in the UAE and Japan, including Wynn Al Marjan Island and MGM Osaka.
- Miller says prediction markets take up about 70% of his workday as a regulatory issue.
Bill Miller is the president and CEO of the American Gaming Association. He recently spoke during an oral history interview at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Gaming Law Journal.
Miller said the “integrated resort model” that started in Las Vegas is still guiding casino development across Asia. He described it as a model other countries want to copy.
Asia’s Growing Resort Model
Miller pointed to Macau as a clear example. He said the model is no longer just about gambling. It now connects to dining, shopping, and entertainment.
Under this model, a visitor does not need to gamble at all. They might just want a nice meal or a night out. This mix of attractions has become common in Asian casino markets.
Macau has six casino concessionaires. All six now offer non-gaming features like concerts, shopping, and fine dining.
Half of these six companies have ties to Las Vegas. That group includes Las Vegas Sands, which runs Sands China. It also includes MGM Resorts International, which owns MGM China Holdings.
Wynn Resorts is the third company with Las Vegas ties. It supports Wynn Macau.
There is also Melco Resorts & Entertainment. This company is listed on the Nasdaq exchange in the United States. It has minority partners in the US for its Studio City resort in Cotai.
Miller also mentioned Singapore’s casino market. It has two operators, Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa. Both follow the same US-style blueprint.
Miller discussed a new project in the United Arab Emirates called Wynn Al Marjan Island. Wynn Resorts holds a 40 percent stake in the project. It is set to open in 2027.
He said this would be the first major casino in the Middle East region. He called the growing interest from new countries proof that the Las Vegas model has value.
Japan is another market Miller mentioned. The MGM Osaka casino resort is under construction there. It carries a price tag of about 9.33 billion US dollars.
MGM Osaka is expected to open in 2030. Miller said it will be Japan’s first major commercial casino.
Prediction Markets Take Center Stage
Miller also spoke about prediction markets. These platforms let people bet on outcomes in categories like sports.
Prediction markets are currently regulated as financial products by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. They are not treated as gaming products.
Miller said he does not think the federal government should be involved in sports betting. He was asked about the biggest legal issue facing the AGA.
He said prediction markets take up about 70 percent of his day. He called it the most pressing issue his group is dealing with right now.
Miller said the AGA’s role is to protect and support the licensed gaming industry. He said the biggest challenge comes from groups that avoid licensing requirements.
He said some operators do not want to pay taxes or follow rules on consumer protection and money laundering. These are rules that licensed casinos must follow.
Miller said there is a steady stream of people who want into the gaming industry but do not want to follow its rules. He noted that some of these groups would not pass background checks required for licensing.
