IAG hosted its inaugural “Super September” series, comprising Manila After Dark, the IAG Academy Summit and IAG Academy IR Awards, at Hilton Manila, Newport World Resorts from 12 to 14 September.
More than 200 guests and delegates converged on the Hilton Manila at Newport World Resorts in September to take part in Inside Asian Gaming’s first ever “Super September” series of industry events.
Running across three days, the celebrations began on the evening of Tuesday 12 September with the return of Manila After Dark, where 130 people enjoyed the festivities at Newport World Resorts’ Grand Bar & Lounge. Representatives from Philippine national regulator PAGCOR and from the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, along with major operators, industry suppliers, legal eagles, media and other industry representatives, joined the IAG team for a night of fine canapés, free-flowing drinks and lively conversation.
There were also five lucky draw winners who each took home gift vouchers courtesy of Newport World Resorts valued between Php3,000 and Php10,000.
IAG thanks all our Manila After Dark sponsors for their support: Newport World Resorts as Venue Sponsor, Light & Wonder as Platinum Sponsor and Aristocrat, Everi, FBM and IGT as Gold Sponsors.
The inaugural IAG Academy Summit kicked off on the morning of Wednesday 13 September at Hilton Manila, Newport World Resorts with the Chairman and CEO of PAGCOR, Alejandro Tengco, delivering the Keynote Address. During his Keynote, Mr Tengco outlined the agency’s progress in privatizing its casino operations in order to become a pure regulator.
“We have started preparing for this transition in earnest, and we are starting where it matters most – within PAGCOR itself,” he said, adding that preparations for the sale of PAGCOR’s Casino Filipino licenses should be complete by 2025.
“The current PAGCOR administration is just more than a year in office. This means we have more than enough time to accomplish our goals of being more dynamic, more profitable and more focused as a purely regulatory corporation.
“Once we achieve this, you can bet that the Philippines will not only become the gold standard in Asian gaming but will also become one of the biggest gaming destinations in the world, as evidenced by the healthy pipeline of new integrated resorts and casinos that are going up all over the country today.”
Mr Tengco was later joined in a regulators’ panel by Khim Oudam, Deputy Director of Legal Affairs and Licensing Department for the Commercial Gambling Management Commission (CGMC) of Cambodia, and Peter Cohen, Director of Regulatory Affairs for The Agenda Group, to discuss key issues impacting gaming regulation across the region.
Other sessions saw Professor Toru Mihara of the Council for the Promotion of Integrated Resorts, a Japanese government body, provide an update on where Japan’s IR process currently sits, while there was an in-depth look at the Philippines’ new EGM Technical Standards and a review of the impact of recent changes to the Macau Gaming Law.
Day 2 of the IAG Academy Summit began with a Keynote Address from Atty. Agnes Devanadera, President and CEO of the Clark Development Corporation, who outlined her vision for the rapidly rising Clark Freeport Zone including an overview of its current attractions and facilities.
She also noted that, while Clark was growing as a gaming and tourism destination, its long-term ambitions rely on expanding the number of high-end hotel rooms available.
“We are trying to manage the number of casinos, because we want those who are already there, those who have invested, to be able to maximize their potential in terms of generating revenues,” Atty. Devanadera said. “We have six casinos right now although there are many applicants. We have 4,007 hotel rooms and this is where the corporate investors come in. We need more hotel rooms.”
A panel session on Clark followed, with IAG’s Ben Blaschke joined on stage by Hann Resorts’ Dennis Andreaci and D’Heights’ Eduardo Dacanay, while a very well attended Suppliers’ Panel featured Aristocrat’s Daniel Milrad, IGT’s Michael Cheers and Light & Wonder’s Ken Jolly.
A highlight of the day was a unique “At the Bar” session midway through the afternoon at which Lorraine Koo, Corporate COO of leading junket Dowinn Group, not only told IAG’s Vice Chairman and CEO Andrew W Scott all about junkets in the Philippines but made cocktails for the two of them while she did it in a masterful display of multi-tasking!
Finally, Newport World Resorts’ very own COO Hakan Dagtas, Hann’s Dennis Andreaci and PAGCOR’s General Manager, Licensing and Regulatory Group Daniel Cecilio joined an Operator’s Panel to discuss various issues and opportunities they face in 2023 and beyond.
Thanks again to all our summit sponsors: FBM as Lanyard Sponsor; Light & Wonder as Barista Coffee Sponsor; Hann Casino Resort, Mega Fortris and Okada Manila as Platinum Sponsors; Aristocrat as Gold Sponsor and Asia Pioneer Entertainment as a Session Sponsor. Light & Wonder was also Day 1 Lunch Sponsor and Aristocrat Day 2 Lunch Sponsor.
Also on the agenda during “Super September” was the IAG Academy IR Awards, held in The Ballroom at Hilton Manila, Newport World Resorts. A total of 20 awards were handed out throughout the evening, with Galaxy Macau taking down the title of Best Integrated Resort in Asia, and Solaire clinching Best Regional Asia-Pacific Integrated Resort. Three Rising Stars – Mark Howell, Wendy Ni and Phil Stormonth – were named, as well as three Industry Icons: Dennis Andreaci, Michael Cheers and Hakan Dagtas. Mr Enrique Razon, Chairman and CEO of Solaire operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp joined the IAG Academy Hall of Honor as Outstanding CEO.
Congratulations also to Galaxy Entertainment Group, Light & Wonder, Sands China Limited, Solaire Resort Entertainment City and Marina Bay Sands, who were all multiple award winners on the night.
Once again, a huge thankyou to all our awards sponsors for making the evening possible: Newport World Resorts as Venue Sponsor, Okada Manila as Welcome Cocktails Sponsor, Hann Casino Resort as Platinum Sponsor, Mega Fortris as Entertainment Sponsor, and Angel, Aristocrat Gaming, IGT, Light & Wonder and Solaire Resort Entertainment City as Gold Sponsors.
Details on the when and where of the 2024 IAG Academy Summit and IAG Academy IR Awards will be announced soon.
