IGT quits Japan; Vdara goes bargain-friendly; Singapore opens

After losing $21 million in Japan last year, IGT is saying a not-so-fond farewell to the Land of the Rising Sun. Its sales of pachislot machines had been in decline and were nowhere near the volume needed to reach break-even. According to a J.P. Morgan research note, governmental tweaking of pachislot rules had ironed much of the game’s volatility away, flattening its customer appeal. If Japan ever OKs Vegas-style casinos, IGT will be back faster than you can say “Jimmy Doolittle” — but Japanese casinos have been “just around the corner” for years now, so don’t go holding your breath.

D’ya remember how, not so long ago, MGM Mirage CEO Jim Murren was kind of pooh-poohing the importance of local customers to CityCenter? It sounds as though there’s been an ever-so-slight modulation of that tune. Today, Vdara e-mail blasted a 20%-off, week-’round spa promotion. If you’re reading this on your mobile device and want to take advantage, text “VDARALV” to 37160. Alas, there’s no additional discount if you tell them S&G sent you.

Just in the nick of time, the high pajandrums who rule Singapore have given their blessing for Resorts World Sentosa to open its casino for Chinese New Year. It looked very nip and tuck for a while there but Genting Bhd pulled it off. Singaporeans can also start buying their $70/day passes (or $1,000/year all-access pass) to the casino. Make no mistake, this is a huge coup for Genting and a massive embarrassment for Las Vegas Sands which, even with a considerable head start, couldn’t get its act together and thus will miss out on the biggest gambling fortnight of the year. By the time Marina Bay Sands‘ executive team was sacked, it was too late, and while Sheldon Adelson has been putting an exceedingly good face on the whole debacle, it’s a lead-pipe cinch that he’s seething behind his placid façade.