HONG KONG - A Macau lawyer assaulted in broad daylight in the Chinese gambling haven said Monday the attack was an attempt to intimidate him. Jorge Menezes said the two assailants used bricks to bash him on the head before fleeing in last week's attack, which recalled the former Portuguese colony's shady past when Chinese organized crime gangs known as "triads" fought for control of lucrative casino VIP rooms. Macau largely shed its reputation for triad violence as it grew into the world's biggest gambling market.

The Philippines makes its biggest bet this weekend in a high-stakes bid to join the world's elite gaming destinations, with the launch of a $1.2-billion casino on Manila Bay. Solaire Manila Resorts is the first of four enormous entertainment venues slated to rise over a giant chunk of prime, reclaimed land that industry and government leaders expect will attract millions of cashed-up Asian tourists.

Casino operator SJM Holdings, owned by Hong Kong tycoon Stanley Ho, said Wednesday its annual net profit increased 27.1 percent last year thanks to its leading share in the Macau gaming market. SJM, in a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange, said its net profit rose to a record HK$6.75 billion ($870.1 million) for calendar 2012 compared to HK$5.31 billion the previous year. Revenue rose by 4.5 percent to HK$78.88 billion from HK$75.51 billion in 2011, while its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) grew 10.1 percent to HK$7.631 billion.