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August 2009 • MOP 30 • ISSN 2070-7681 Steady As She Goes? Under Macau’s new Chief Executive Atronic: Big DEAL Singapore: Bay Watch Transact: Fit to Print The ‘G6’ Noteworthy Promotions In Focus: Integrated Resort 2.0 INSIDE ASIAN GAMING | August 2009 CONTENTS August 2009 Handle With Care 7 7 Cover Story 12 Bay Watch 18 Dynasty 20 Fit to Print 23 The “G6” 26 Integrated Resort 2.07 28 Table to Cage 30 Losing Some Steam 33 33 Big DEAL 36 Cadillac Jack 39 Noteworthy Promotions 44 Regional Briefs 46 International Briefs 48 Events Calendar 39 August 2009 | INSIDE ASIAN GAMING 2 INSIDE ASIAN GAMING | August 2009 August 2009 | INSIDE ASIAN GAMING 3 Editorial Wind of Change The gaming industry, perhaps more than many other industries, relies on big personalities and a supportive political framework. Events of the last few weeks have shown how quickly things can change. First there was the signalling of a change of personnel at the top in Macau politics. Fernando Chui Sai On was confirmed as the Chief Executive-elect and will take over from the incumbent Edmund Ho in December—the tenth anniversary of Macau’s return to Chinese administration. Second there was the hospitalisation of 87-year old Dr Stanley Ho, the founder of the modern Macau gaming industry. He underwent surgery for a blood clot on his brain—an operation necessitated reportedly after a fall at home. As far as Mr Chui’s appointment is concerned, many commentators on Macau are predicting more of the same. That means a largely hands-off, arms-length approach to the industry—in terms of giving it as much freedom as possible to generate wealth for the local community, within the framework of international standard regulation. Publisher There are, however, a number of domestic economic issues that were either shelved or only Kareem Jalal partially addressed by the outgoing government. Two important ones are what should be the level of gaming tax levied and how to restructure the economy from being a low skill, low wages society Director importing all its required talent, to a high skill, high wages community creating new wealth organically João Costeira Varela through innovation and excellence in its tourism and gaming sectors. It is hard to see how—with a global recession and the imminent arrival of fresh competition in the Asian casino gaming market Editor from a low-tax, well educated community, namely Singapore—decisive action on these issues can Michael Grimes be postponed indefinitely. Regarding Dr Ho’s recent illness, Inside Asian Gaming wishes him a speedy recovery. He commands Operations Manager the respect of everyone in the local industry. As a person with a mixed cultural heritage—Chinese José Abecasis and Western—he is able to span the sometimes seemingly unbridgeable gap between the viewpoint and expectations of the overseas operators, and the expectations of the host community and local Contributors consumers. Dr Ho also has the pragmatism and force of personality to bring normally sparring Desmond Lam, Steve Karoul factions together for the common good. His prolonged absence from the helm at a time of challenge I. Nelson Rose, Richard Marcus and change for the Asian gaming sector would not be to anyone’s benefit. Shenée Tuck, James J. Hodl Andrew MacDonald Not Just a Game William R. Eadington National governments are often accused of being slow to understand and respond to technological developments and how they affect the way we all do business. Graphic Designer China’s recent crackdown on so-called ‘virtual cash’ earned via computer games suggests that Brenda Chao Beijing is responsive to how a cyber economy can affect what happens in the ‘real’ world. This virtual cash can be generated in a number of ways. Those ways include earning credits for Photography achieving goals in role-playing games. Those credits can then be sold to others for hard cash, in what Ike is sometimes termed ‘gold farming’. Another method is to earn virtual winnings from casino-style or table-style games played for example on a subscription basis that can then be converted to prizes Inside Asian Gaming or cash. is published by In both cases, the net result is the same for the service providers. They tap in to the psychology of Must Read Publications Ltd winning and the feel good effect that has on the player, and get the player to spend real money up Suite 1907, AIA Tower, 215A-301 front in order to generate their virtual winnings. Av. Comercial de Macau - Macau An underlying point about virtual cash is that it’s widely been seen by the online gaming industry Tel: (853) 6646 0795 as a good way to engage players’ interest without falling foul of China’s prohibition on domestic casino gaming. For subscription enquiries, The fact Beijing has decided to intervene in this market appears to be a sign of its concern about please email the social implications of excessive gambling-type behaviour among the population—especially [email protected] among the young. In an economy not yet fully plugged in to international financial markets, excessive speculation in the digital world could also lead to negative implications for the real economy. This For advertising enquiries, is not an empty threat. Exact figures for virtual currency exchange in China are hard to come by— please email official estimates from the Ministry of Commerce recently put the figure in China at “several billion [email protected] or call: (853) 6646 0795 yuan”. At current exchange rates RMB1 billion is equivalent to more than US$146 million. One of the most popular virtual currencies in China is “QQ coins” issued by Chinese Internet service www.asgam.com provider Tencent. The QQ coins can be used to pay for in-game items or elements that subscribers can add to their blog. Some stores and websites had even started accepting QQ coins in payment for low-value items. Printed by The possibility of a parallel currency emerging among the nation’s youth just as China is starting Unique Network Printing Factory Ltd. to play a bigger role in international financial affairs, is unlikely to be greeting with rejoicing in Beijing. Tel: (853) 2828 2832 Whether an accommodation can be found between the commercial needs of the online industry and Fax: (853) 2828 2830 the strategic needs of the country’s leadership, remains to be seen. E-mail: [email protected] Michael Grimes 4 INSIDE ASIAN GAMING | August 2009 We crave your feedback. Please email your comments to [email protected] August 2009 | INSIDE ASIAN GAMING 5 6 Cover Story Steady As She Goes? More of the same may not be an option for Macau’s Chief Executive-elect hui Sai On has been formally selected prospects in what is still, after all, a clannish as Macau’s Chief Executive-elect city, and offer none of the advantages found Cand will take up his new post in in the West in having a high public profile December. He will be the second person to (such as book deals or priority reservations hold the job since the territory was passed in restaurants). from Portuguese administration back to China in 1999. Dissenting voices Mr Chui, known in the foreign-language Mr Chui’s election was, however, media by his Western name Fernando Chui, not quite the coronation that some had is a former Secretary for Social Affairs and predicted. The 297 members of the Chief Culture in Macau. It’s hardly Mr Chui’s fault Executive Election Committee did not that he was the only candidate for the top select him unanimously. There were 14 job this time round, but it does rather tarnish abstentions. the democratic shine associated in the West José Pereira Coutinho, a member of with the word ‘election’. Macau’s Legislative Assembly who has Potential rival candidates for the post often been critical of the outgoing Chief seemed disinclined to play electoral Ugly Executive’s administration, said he did not Sister to Mr Chui’s Cinderella merely to make cast his ballot at all, describing it as “a way” the outside world feel good about itself and to express his opinion about the election. By about Macau. Would-be opponents may contrast, the incumbent Mr Ho gained 296 have reasoned that to stand against a shoe- votes in his second-term election. in (as was the incumbent Chief Executive One big public project that Mr Chui Edmund Ho in his election for a second was in charge of while in Edmund Ho’s Fernando Chui Sai On has been elected as term in 2004) would carry all the potential cabinet was the preparation for the the next Chief Executive of the Macau Special for damaging their career and business 4th East Asian Games held in 2005. The Administrative Region August 2009 | INSIDE ASIAN GAMING 7 Cover Story project involved construction of several making a gesture in favour of pluralism interests of local business leaders and the stadia and support facilities. Spending on given that there were no alternative casino operators, sometimes at the expense the infrastructure and the games ended candidates. That, in turn, could be a sign of the general population. Supporters of up going 70% over the allotted budget, that some Election Committee members the system say Western-style democracy drawing strong criticism at the time from are willing to act independently outside of is overrated and leads to decision-making some law makers. the consensus government model that has designed to court short-term popularity The abstentions in Mr Chui’s selection developed in the decade since the Special and win popular elections, rather than to process need not be seen specifically as a Administrative Region was formed.

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