Inside Asian Gaming

Las Vegas in Europe? Macau to the East, Vegas to the West – the world’s hottest gaming destinations lie at opposite ends of the map. Kristian Nygaard takes a look at possible future gaming hotspots in the middle. everal new gaming hotspots are likely to emerge in Eastern Europe over the next few years, thanks to more liberal regulation of gambling in the former Eastern Bloc countries and the lower costs of setting up shop there. However, don’t discount the West. Favourable laws have recently been passed in the UK, which should mean more gambling in a less restrictive way. The following list of likely future European gaming hotspots is by no means authoritative, but I believe these areas, with certain changes and with the right guidance, could well end up as new Las Vegases in the OldWorld. Blackpool, UK Already possessing a very clearly defined “fun- in-the-sun-and-sand” tourism profile, the step towards gambling in Blackpool is not far away. Recent changes in legislation towards less strict laws for casinos in the UK favour this. Blackpool has a long tourism history and a reputation based on the beach, piers and the tower located in the city. The area also benefits from its proximity to major urban areas such as Manchester and Liverpool, and already attracts many visitors from these areas. Bratislava Area, Slovakia A true destination for the future – not only for gambling, but also as an all-round tourist destination. Bratislava’s excellent location in the middle of Central Europe makes this city a winner. Vienna is only half an hour away and a surge in the number of low-cost flights to and from the nearby airportmeans that access to future gambling areas near Bratislava will be easy,quick and cheap.When combined with the low cost of doing business in Slovakia, Bratislava could in 5-10 years rise to be a real star on the Eastern European tourism scene. Ohrid, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Before the war in former Yugoslavia, this was one of the premier inland destinations in the southern part of the country. Now, it is once again on a winning streak. Situated at one of the most beautiful lakes in Europe, the city already boasts numerous tourism facilities. A strong position could be obtained within the Greek market. Greece is only around 150km away and though a competitive market, it is nonetheless quite large and has room for expansion. Combined with general and shopping tourism, Ohrid could emerge as a gambling Mecca for the Southern Balkans. Crimean Peninsula, Ukraine Another well established tourist destination in Eastern Europe in the former Soviet Union. The Crimea used to attract Communist Party officials and anyone else who could afford it. The area, known as the Crimean Rivera and compromising such resorts as Simferopol andYalta,has abundant hotels, rest houses and vacation homes as well as other tourism facilities. Combined with the low cost and the good connections through air and rail to other parts of the former Soviet Union, the Crimean Peninsula could with the right marketing effort become a destination that attracts many visitors within this growing market. Jurmala, Latvia This town, located very close to the Latvian capital Riga, is one of the oldest resorts in Eastern Europe dating back to the beginning of the 19th century.It is rumoured that one of the first railways to be built during Czarist Russia was between Jurmala and Moscow. Even back then, the 30km long stretch of sand and the fresh water of the Baltic Sea held much appeal. When the Soviet Union collapsed, the independent state of Latvia inherited a severe pollution problem and its waters became hazardous to bathe in. However, today, with much cleaner water and reduced pollution, the 30km stretch is still there.Now construction is underway on modern hotel and other facilities. Jurmala has an almost perfect position as a future gambling city. The capital of Riga is only 20 minutes away and from the airport there are connections to the rest of Europe as well as a growing number of ferry lines to Scandinavia and Germany. Kaliningrad, Russia Upon arrival in KaliningradOblast (region),you get the impression you’ve travelled back 20 years in time to the Soviet era. In pouring rain, Kaliningrad certainly does not strike you as a place where tourists might flock in the near future. Grey is the dominant colour. However, the area does have its prospects. Not far from Kaliningrad City you can find the beach resorts of Zelenogradsk and Svetlogorsk, which are both nice and cosy small towns.In fact,these are among the very few beach resorts that are still part of Russia. And since the enclave of Kaliningrad is isolated from the rest of Russia, the Russian administration has launched cheap, subsidised flights from the Russian mainland. All factors combined, the Kaliningrad area could become a major tourism destination in Russia within the next decade if marketed and developed in the right direction. Desire’s the determinant There is definitely potential in Europe for one or several destinations to develop as future gaming hotspots. And although on-line gambling is growing and the possibilities of reaching overseas gamblingdestinationsaregettingeasier,thefuture qualities of these destinations should prevail. My experience as a tourism consultant tells me that probably the one determining factor more than anything else is the desire of city officials and local businesses to really succeed. I am convinced that if any of these places really go for gambling and include it within their local tourism strategy plans, they can do it. KRISTIAN NYGAARD (knygaard@tiscali.dk) is a Copenhagen-based tourism and gambling consultant. His company, International Tourist Consultants(ITC),hasworkedwithcasinos inSweden and Lithuania as well as tourism assignments in Russia and Denmark. Vienna is only half an hour away and a surge in the number of low-cost flights to and from the nearby airport means that access to future gambling areas near Bratislava will be easy,quick and cheap Probably the one determining factor more than anything else is the desire of city officials and local businesses to really succeed 27 26 Not-so-sunny Kaliningrad Or Europe in Las Vegas?