Inside Asian Gaming

inside asian gaming June 2016 34 Features MGIA at G2E Asia last month. SHL are “managing and developing casinos in frontier and emerging Asian markets” including Vietnam and Nepal, Executive Director and President for Business Development Tim Shepherd says. “We are being told by promoters that players want to travel more and escape the bright lights of Macau and Singapore. We therefore see cooperation between SHL and MGIA members as a natural step to take and are very happy to be working with MGIA on this initiative.” Mr Tong notes that, “Nepal has visa-free entry for Chinese. Eventually, a lot of Chinese will come. There’s a lot of interest among travelers in mountain climbing, Buddhism.” He also believes SHL’s boutique resort outside Hanoi can attract VIPs. “The average white collar professional or business owner likes to travel,” he continues. “Saipan and the Philippines have huge potential along with Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. You don’t have to be a super VIP to travel overseas.” Mr Tong says Macau junket promoters want places that are “stable politically” – which helps guarantee patrons’ safety – have no political disputes with China and offer low tax structures to enable higher rebates from casinos. Despite the continuing downturn in Macau’s VIP play, he insists junkets remain vital in pursuit of the mainland customer. “As long are there are currency restrictions, no promotion of gambling through media and no gambling in China, junkets will not be replaced,” he says, noting the importance of peer-to-peer promotion in the mainland after Korean casino promoters were arrested there. “Even if they want to gamble, VIPs face restrictions on the transport of currency. That’s not going to end until the SAR border is eliminated.” That gives the junket sector a lease on life until at least 20 December 2049. 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.