Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING FEB 2019 6 FEB 2019 Cover Image: 18 COVER STORY CONTENTS Breakfast Briefs 12 IN FOCUS 48 Planned to perfection Commtech Asia is providing IR operators across the Asia-Pacific region with a complete project management service aimed at maximizing efficiency and avoiding the many potential pitfalls around IR development. JAPAN 26 IAG expands into Japan IAG has announced its expansion into Japan via two new Japanese- language gaming industry media products and a cooperation agreement with Japan’s Ohta Publications. 42 Tokyo without borders Japanese firm teamLab is demonstrating just how the country’s modern art scene can be incorporated into large-scale developments such as IRs. 30 The time is now With the dream of Japanese IRs edging closer with each passing day, IAG takes a closer look at what to expect from Japan’s lawmakers, candidate locations and hopeful operators in 2019. 38 Japan’s big deal IAG visited the recently established Japan Casino Academy in Osaka to find out about dealer training for the nation’s burgeoning casino industry. COLUMNISTS 54 An effective antidote for turbulent times Providing a unique and high quality customer experience can give operators the edge when it comes to attracting and retaining more customers. TRADE EVENTS 58 Ice age IAG speaks with Kate Chambers, Managing Director of ICE London organizer Clarion Gaming, about what to expect from the world’s biggest gaming industry trade show in 2019. 62 EVENTS CALENDAR The Korean peninsula’s initial integrated resort leans on art, airportandJapantiestoovercome “firstmoverdisadvantage”and its foreigner-only casino restriction. Paradise Co Paradise reinvented