Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING JANUARY 2018 8 Big things in store for Asian gaming in 2018 www.asgam.com year is a long time in the gaming industry. Take a quick look back at the events that shaped our industry in 2017 and it’s hard not to be shocked by just how many industry-changing events have taken place – from the tragic shootings in Manila and Las Vegas to the ongoing saga of Japan’s casino legislation, the jailing of 16 Crown Resorts staff and the remarkable allegations of fraud against Kazuo Okada by his company (and family). No doubt we’ll be looking back again in another 12 months’ time at a series of memorable events that will have shaped 2018, but as we warm into the new year there are already a number of positive developments to look forward to. The first of these, of course, is the long-awaited opening of MGM Cotai in Macau on 29 January. Originally planned to open in 1H17, MGM Cotai – like many of its Cotai IR peers – has suffered a series of setbacks along the way, most recently due to damage from Typhoon Hato in August. If anything, however, these delays have only added to the anticipation given the intriguing glimpses MGM China has provided into its new property’s offerings. Aside from providing another 1,400 much-needed hotel rooms, MGM Cotai will boast a high-tech interactive theatre with a world-first 28 million pixel giant LED screen covering 900 square meters, a series of exciting fine dining restaurants including Cantonese restaurant Chún, Sichuan specialist Five Foot Road, H ǎ o Guō which will offer seafood hotpot and regional Chinese cuisine, Miàn Duì Miàn – a 24-hour Chinese restaurant serving handmade noodles and dumplings – and Bar Patuá, a contemporary bar serving crafted cocktails using uniquely oriental ingredients such as Chinese tea and herbs. MGM Cotai will also be home to the company’s Mansion product – an exclusive villa for VIP guests inspired by 18th century Italian architecture. The Mansion follows on from the hugely successful version at MGM Grand in Las Vegas and is expected to be a game-changer for MGM China in the VIP space. Also set to open in early 2018 is Melco Resorts’ new luxury Macau hotel Morpheus at City of Dreams. Construction of the Zaha Hadid-designed hotel has been hard to miss over the past two years as it has gradually risen skyward alongside the Cotai Strip and like MGM Cotai it promises to raise the bar once again for Asia’s entertainment hub with its elite combination of premium mass and VIP gaming alongside many other high-end offerings. Only a few weeks ago Melco Resorts announced that an entire floor of Morpheus will be occupied by famous French chef Alain Ducasse via two restaurants and a bar. Those restaurants will include Alain Ducasse at Morpheus, serving French contemporary haute cuisine, and Voyages by Alain Ducasse – described as “a unique take on Asian cuisines inspired by Ducasse’s travels over the past 30 years.” On a personal note, it’s been a long time since I’ve looked forward to a property opening as much as I am looking forward to the launch of both MGM Cotai and Morpheus. Openings aside, the other big news story on the horizon for 2018 is, once again, Japan. Despite it now being more than a year since the ruling LDP government passed the IR Promotion Bill in December 2016 – primarily as a result of legitimate and widespread concerns regarding Japan’s gambling addiction problems – the next step is tipped to be just a matter of months away. Following on from the re-election of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in November, it is expected that a gambling addiction bill will be passed imminently followed by the final piece of legislation, the IR Implementation Bill, mid-year. From there, watch the sparks fly as the world’s biggest IR operators jostle to win one of Japan’s prized casino licenses. It is sure to become the story of the year. Ben Blaschke Managing Editor We crave your feedback. Please email your comments to bb@asgam.com. EDITORIAL A