Nikkei rises to new 6-month high on earnings hopes; casino plays outperform

TOKYO, July 28 (Reuters) - The Nikkei share average hit a six-month closing high on Monday, buoyed by hopes for improvement in domestic corporate earnings, while casino-related plays outperformed on a media report that new casinos could be opened in Japan before the 2020 Summer Olympics. The benchmark Nikkei gained 0.5 percent to 15,529.40 points, its highest closing level since Jan. 23. Since mid-June, the index has tried a few times to rise above the 15,500 level but in vain. Still, th