Inside Asian Gaming

COVER STORY CONTENTS FEBRUARY 2018 8 Breakfast Briefs IN FOCUS 20 Climbing the mountain IAG spoke to Silver Heritage Managing Director and CEO Mike Bolsover after the long-awaited opening of the company’s Tiger Palace Resort Bhairahawa in Nepal. GAMBLING AND THE LAW 28 Can sportsbooks survive a 1% tax on handle? With many US states licking their lips in anticipation of added tax dollars should the federal ban on sports betting be struck down, the industry may well have another big fight on its hands. INDUSTRY PROFILE 34 Herman Ng: Macau Pioneer Inside Asian Gaming discovers a bit more about Herman Ng, CEO and Executive Director of Macau-based slot machine services firm Asia Pioneer Entertainment. TRADE SHOWS 38 Ticket to Japan The eyes of the global gaming industry will be firmly focused on Japan this spring with the 3rd Japan Gaming Congress taking place in Tokyo from 10 to 11 May. 42 The big gets bigger The world’s biggest gaming industry trade show, ICE, returns to ExCeL London from 6 to 8 February in what promises to be another record-breaking week. TECH TALK 46 Cherry on top Scientific Games has launched its new game “Da Hong Ying Tao” into Asia’s casinos. 50 EVENTS CALENDAR INDUSTRY PROFILE Herman Ng Cover Image: Steelman Partners Design for profit Architect Paul Steelman provides his insights into designing the most expensive privately funded buildings on earth and making and breaking trends. 14