About this app
What is Penalty Duel?
Stix Asia—the 18,000-square-foot food hall replacing the former Sundry food hall at UnCommons in southwest Las Vegas—announced its first three restaurants this week, all of which began in Tokyo: Ginza Bairin, founded in 1927; the Ramen Bario ramen spot; and Nanamusubi. The food hall is expected to open over the winter with a dozen concepts representing cuisines from around Asia.
K Ssam Bap—a Korean restaurant in the mini-mall at 3909 W. Sahara Ave.– was reportedly closed by the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) for the second time since it opened just a year ago.
According to SNHD records, a routine inspection on Thursday, Sept. 10, cited the establishment for 16 health violations resulting in 58 demerits. Infractions included improper food cooling, un-sanitized food contact surfaces, improper storage temperatures, and adulterated or spoiled food items.
How to play Penalty Duel
Some analysts have questioned whether this deal marks the beginning of an M&A spree for GiG as it looks to re-enter the B2C space.
But that isn’t the case according to Richards: “We are not signalling plans to re-enter B2C elsewhere; Africa is a distinct case: a high-growth, underpenetrated region where owning a local operator makes strategic sense in a way it may not elsewhere.”
There’s also a financial constraint, with Ahlberg noting that GiG has used its available cash and is raising additional capital to fund the 888Africa transaction, meaning he doesn’t expect the company to pursue further B2C acquisitions in the short term.
About Penalty Duel
Genting Singapore’s flagship Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) offers a smorgasbord of non-gaming entertainments, including Universal Studios Singapore. “These different businesses are planned and operated as one connected destination for leisure visitors, families, business travellers and event delegates, with the aim to widen the destination’s appeal, encourage longer stays and support spending across a broader tourism ecosystem,” a Genting Singapore spokesperson tells iGB.
Singapore’s experience shows that tourism growth and stringent social safeguards need not be mutually exclusive. Since its IRs opened, international visitor arrivals have risen from 9.7 million in 2009 to 16.9 million in 2025, while tourism receipts more than doubled from S$12.4 billion to a record S$32.8 billion.
At the same time, problem and pathological gambling rates among Singaporean adults have remained stable, with the rate declining notably between 2023 and 2025. As the spokesperson puts it, the model blends “two objectives together: generating tourism and economic benefits while making responsible gambling and social safeguards central to the model”.
