Inside Asian Gaming

June 2016 inside asian gaming 33 and financial services to customers, many of the other 130 junket promoters scrambling to find opportunities in a contracting market are small operations with limited experience doing business outside greater China. “With decline in Macau, junkets are looking for more places to capitalize their database and networks,” Mr Tong explains. “There’s a genuine need for junkets to explore opportunities in the region.” With members from across the region on both the operator and promoter sides, MGIA can facilitate matchmaking between junkets and casinos beyond Macau. Silver Heritage Ltd (SHL) signed a cooperation agreement with “That amount is still very important,”Mr Kwok observes. “Less important than it was, but still very relevant to the overall picture.” Mr Kwok is an adviser to the MGIA, with the AMJEM playing its part in the quest to create a debtor blacklist and common credit database. Along with declining revenue, Macau junkets face increasing regulation and scrutiny – highlighted last month with the release of the Macau government’s interim review of the casino sector since the 2002 liberalization. “Both associations and the junkets want to strengthen licensing requirements and entry supervision,” Mr Kwok says. “It will make operations healthier and up to legal standards. Before the interim review, the associations starting working with the DICJ to discuss strengthening financing requirements.” Overall, he calls the interim review a “very positive and objective view of the Macau industry and Macau economy, especially the part about the junkets – (it was) very close to practices and very informative.” He also doesn’t see any threat to the future of junkets from Melco Crown’s Studio City opening without VIP rooms. “It’s part of their strategy,” Mr Kwok smiles. “They’d be better off with VIPs. They’d get more income.” The MGIA and AMJEM are in talks with the DICJ and individual junkets to create a debtor database that would be accessible to industry members. The Macau government has agreed that a debtor database can be created within current statutes.