inside asian gaming iGAMING Blue Pages Using data to drive sportsbooks march 2017 #129 | 30 MOP TECH TALK Exploring gaming’s test labs INDUSTRY PROFILE G&D’s Jim Goodwin Baha Mar RISES Chinese saviors revive Bahamas resort www.asgam.com COVER STORY CONTENTS MARCH 2017 Cover Image: Grand Hyatt China’s INDUSTRY 6 PROFILE Caribbean 12 Jim Goodwin: Money man Giesecke & Devrient’s Global Business Development Director – Casinos, Jim Goodwin, has helped the German company become beat a leader in the gaming industry. JAPAN The long delayed 16 The Japanese Integrated Resort, Part 1 Casino and integrated resort experts Dr Glen McCartney and US$3.5 billion Baha Dr Andy Nazarechuk examine the lessons learnt from similar ventures in Las Vegas, Macau and Singapore. Mar resort in the Bahamas is finally set iGAMING IN DEPTH for launch thanks to 22 How data drives sportsbook revenue Sportsbook providers such as SB Tech are using data analysis Macau investor Chow to provide their clients with a detailed assessment of their customer base and ultimately increase revenue. Tai Fook Enterprises and the backing of KEEN OBSERVATIONS Chinese lenders. 26 The importance of employee development Dr Brian To examines the key factors organizations must consider when it comes to training employees to maximize their potential. TRADE EVENTS 30 iGaming Asia Congress heading to Macau The iGaming Asia Congress 2017 will return to the Grand Hyatt Macau this month, representing a unique opportunity to gain insight into the latest from the world of online gaming. TRADE EVENTS 32 ICE cranks up the heat Inside Asian Gaming was among the record number of attendees in London last month as the world’s biggest gaming industry exhibition, ICE, reached spectacular new heights in 2017. TECH TALK 36 Testing times GLI’s CEO and Managing Director, Ian Hughes, discusses the vitally important work the leading test laboratory carries out for the global gaming industry. BRIEFS 42 Regional Briefs 44 International Briefs 46 Events Calendar Editorial A victory for common sense t’s amazing what people power can achieve. less surprising discovery that most Senators and MPs had no idea of Late last year, an amendment to Australia’s Interactive Gambling the full implications of the bill. Or, in many cases, the fact that poker is Act (2001) was introduced to parliament which, if passed, would fundamentally different from casino games (online casinos are also illegal tighten the screws on illegal offshore operators offering online in Australia). Igambling services to Australians. Put forward by Human Services Minister “Most of the MPs we spoke with were not even aware that this was Alan Tudge, the amendment would give the Australian Communications occurring and were grateful for us bringing it to their attention,” Del Duca and Media Authority (ACMA) the power to issue infringement notices told Inside Asian Gaming. and huge fines to any operator continuing to flout the rules. All of which “Speaking with politicians it has become clear that many simply do is innocent enough, given that Australians are estimated to gamble as not know anything about the differences between poker and house games. much as AU$400 million on illegal sites every year. The primary aim of Once we have sat down and explained the differences to them, explained it the proposed bill is to protect the country’s regulated online sports betting is a skill game and a game where the house doesn’t even play, let alone win, industry while limiting live in-play betting which is not allowed under the and the fact that most gambling researchers see no significant link between Interactive Gambling Act (2001). online poker and problem gambling, they become a lot more receptive. But soon after Minister Tudge put forward his amendment it became “In fact, one of the Senators was so supportive of our motion that he apparent that, aside from its intended targets, a handful of innocent victims has moved an amendment asking the Minister to keep online poker in would also be caught up in the government’s online purge – most notably Australia. We welcome this as it will give the government the opportunity online poker players, whose pastime is currently unregulated Down Under. to consider the benefits of our proposal.” As it turned out, one of those poker players felt strongly enough about Thanks to Del Duca’s hard work, an amendment that was expected the issue to immediately launch the Australian Online Poker Alliance to pass with little fanfare will now be discussed at length before the vote, (AOPA). The AOPA describes itself as aiming, “to give a voice to the with a number of politicians likely to suggest online poker be given an more than 100,000 Australians who enjoy playing online poker. We aim to exemption. If this is indeed the case, it would mean Australia could finally ensure that these services are offered to Australian citizens in a safe and be in line to receive the regulated online poker industry many have long sustainable manner. craved – a win for all sides of the industry. “We would like the Interactive Gambling Act (2001) to be amended to Closer to home, Macau’s legislators have also demonstrated a list online poker as an excluded service in the same way that wagering and willingness to listen to their constituents after easing their language some lotteries currently are listed. This would allow players to be protected in regards to smoking lounges in the city’s casinos. Having previously against unscrupulous black market operators by ensuring a safe, regulated determined to ban smoking lounges completely, the government has playing environment for Australians.” announced it is now willing to allow lounges near gaming floors pending Del Duca and a small group of dedicated colleagues began simply the addition of new technical requirements. The change of heart follows enough, garnering online support via Facebook groups and online petitions. a concessionaire-commissioned study by the University of Macau which However, last month the AOPA kicked their campaign up a gear by meeting found that 60% of all casino staff – including 55% of those working directly with more than a dozen federal politicians and their representatives to make in gaming – supported the retention of smoking lounges. their case – among them Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Senator Like Australia’s online poker bill, it seems such victories for common The Hon James McGrath; noted anti-gambling campaigner Nick Xenophon; sense are indeed possible in this ever-changing gaming industry we work in. Senators James Paterson, Cory Bernardi and David Leyonhjelm; and MPs Julian Leeser, Jason Falinski, Tim Wilson, Rick Wilson and George Christensen. Ben Blaschke The results were surprisingly positive – coming on the back of the We crave your feedback. Please email your comments to [email protected]. www.asgam.com 4 INSIDE ASIAN GAMING MARCH 2017 EDITORIAL SALES & MARKETING CORPORATE Managing Editor VP of Marketing Group CEO Ben Blaschke Derrick Tran Andrew W Scott Editor at Large Associate Director Sales Group CFO Muhammad Cohen and Business Development Michael Mariakis Jadeson Ho Founder and Adviser SVP of Commercial Strategy Kareem Jalal Hong Kong Sales Stephen Taylor Angel Wong Graphic Design Director and Administrator Client Relationship Manager Rui Gomes Cynthia Cheang Daphne Hong Contributors Administration Manager Paul Doocey Maria Madden DISTRIBUTION Kareem Jalal Steve Karoul Distribution Supervisor Administration Assistant Rui Pinto Proença Emily Vong Suie Ng James Rutherford I Nelson Rose Distribution Officers Executive Transportation Officers Andrew W Scott Anson Ip Dave Aglosolos Peng Cheang Gary Hong Photography Mak Man Wah Ike Hoi Hou Wai Gary Wong James Leong Wong Kei Cheong Dave Aglosolos Advertising Enquiries Subscription Enquiries Jadeson Ho [email protected] +853 6331 5577 Emily Vong [email protected] +853 6647 4123 Derrick Tran [email protected] +853 6688 7214 Inside Asian Gaming Must Read Publications is published by Must Read Publications Ltd is a subsidiary of +853 2883 6497 To send us press releases, story ideas or anonymous tip-offs please email [email protected]. 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Nova da Ilha Verde 180 r/c R www.asgam.com ISSN 2070-7681 www.omediamacau.com Cover Story China’s Caribbean beat By Muhammad Cohen | Editor at large The long delayed US$3.5 billion Baha Mar resort in Muhammad Cohen also blogs for Forbes on the Bahamas is finally set gaming throughout Asia and wrote Hong Kong On for launch thanks to Macau Air, a novel set during the 1997 handover investor Chow Tai Fook about TV news, love, betrayal, high finance Enterprises and the backing and cheap lingerie. of Chinese lenders. 6 INSIDE ASIAN GAMING MARCH 2017 Cover Story “Beyond Baha Mar’s cautionary tale of grand ambitions, experts are divided on whether this Bahamas IR with Chinese characteristics will be the Caribbean’s gaming category killer or a US$3.5 billion white elephant.” Chairman of Innovation Project Development, Steve Rittvo HE Caribbean’s costliest hospitality project ever and a dozen years in the making, Baha Mar was conceived by Swiss-born, ethnic Armenian, Bahamas resident Sarkis Izmirlian and the Bahamas government. After numerous false starts, shattered partnerships, missed opening dates, dueling bankruptcies, Mr Izmirlian’s ousting, sovereign credit Tdowngrades and an opaque process to find a new owner, Baha Mar has now become the biggest Chinese investment in the Caribbean, with venerable Macau casino investor Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE) as its owner, a subsidiary of state-owned China State Construction Engineering as its primary contractor and The Export- Import Bank of China as its principal lender. CTFE, founded by late Hong Kong billionaire Cheng Yu-tung and now headed by his son Henry Cheng, is poised to open Baha Mar next month in April as a first time owner and operator of an integrated resort.