Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING | June 2009 14 G2E Asia 2009 Hot Topics G2E Asia 2009 offers a wealth of industry knowledge Day One Conference—Other Sessions The Global Markets Forum held on Tuesday 2nd June will cover a range of strategic issues. Asian Operations: Gaming Across the Pacific Rim looks at how provision of land-based gaming has increased in the region and how consumers and operators have responded to the changes. Experts from jurisdictions such as Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Cambodia, the Philippines, India and South Korea will discuss the many opportunities and challenges for operating in the Pacific Rim. Asian Opportunities: The Potential of New Gaming Jurisdictions presents an opportunity for delegates to hear speakers including Michael Chen, President, Asia- Pacific Region, Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. and Paul Steelman, President, Steelman Partners, the leading casino design consultancy, give their take on the regional market, where several countries are either considering or are in the process of legalising casino gambling.Taiwan recently sanctioned gaming on several offshore islands. Japan has flirted with the gaming industry for a few years. Thailand may choose to respond to the growth of gaming in Southeast Asia. Vietnam is preparing for an experiment with gaming resorts in Ho Tram. Guam and other Pacific Islands also are considering using gaming as a tourist attraction. During this session, Mr Chenwill discuss the political and business realities, legal hurdles and market concerns that come hand-in-hand with the introduction of gaming in these markets. Frank Fahrenkopf Jr, President & CEO, American Gaming Association will act as moderator for the session. The other contributors are Lloyd Nathan, President, MGMMIRAGE Global Gaming Development, and Takahiro Usui, Manager, Aruze Gaming America Inc., Macau. Lessons Learned: Re-making Macau , as the title suggests, will cover the challenges facing the local market, where a number of economic and political factors have slowed the explosive growth seen up to the third quarter of 2008. One of the questions under discussion is whether in future the Macau market will grow in a more controlled, less frantic way, and whether in the long run that might lead to more success for all the players. The speakers include Dr Fanny Vong, President, Macau Institute For Tourism Studies. Cooperation and Conflict: An Overview of Asia’s Regulatory Environment will bring together representatives from several jurisdictions to discuss how each approaches regulatory oversight, integrity and technology as well as operator compliance. Panellists, including: Jorge Godinho, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Macau; Fred Gushin, Managing Director, Spectrum Gaming Group; and Sam Basile, VP, Legal & Compliance and General Counsel, AruzeGamingAmerica, will also discuss how regulators and operators areworking together today in light of current economic constraints. Day Two Conference—Other Sessions In the conference track Casino Design , experts explain how architecture and engineering of resort properties helps not only to realise investors’ and operators’ visions, but also to support the bottom line by building in efficiency. Going Green: Sustainable Construction for Casino Projects covers energy efficiency schemes that actively support the bottom line as well as enhance the public image of the resort operator. Building Excitement: Asian Style will review some of the projects planned, under construction, or scheduled to open in 2010 and beyond in the Asia Pacific region. The session, including contributions from Paul Steelman, President of Steelman Partners, the leading casino design consultancy, will discuss how the design segment of the casino industry has responded to the recent economic downturn and what it means for the integrated resort concept. The Integrated Resort: Scaled Down? will look at the challenges posed by the economic downturn to the funding, construction and marketing model for integrated resorts in Asia. Experts led by Michael Smith, Managing Director, Head of Asian Real Estate, Investment Banking Division, Goldman, Sachs & Co. will give their opinions on how the integrated resort can still work, whether in a smaller version or by being built in self-funding modules. The Gaming Floor track covers table games and slot technology applications, operations and IT. The topics include Standard Procedure: GSA’s Protocol Certification Program presented by Peter DeRaedt, President, Gaming Standards Association. He will outline how GSA’s communication standards, developed for system, gaming and peripheral devices, are being implemented by the world’s leading gaming manufacturers. Mr DeRaedt will also lead discussion on how the standards will enhance interoperability and plug- and-play capabilities in back office systems, on the casino floor, across properties Paul Steelman