REGIONAL EDGE

As Macau is preparing to enter a second cycle in the development of the gaming industry -- seeking to maintain its market leadership while at the same time striving to diversify -- we take an indepth look at the competition.

The Philippines was a travel destination in its own right before it became one of the strongest gaming hubs in Asia. It has outperformed over the past five years and is expected to continue to do so as the country’s operators expand. Revenue from the country’s gaming industry rose almost 23 percent year-on-year last year to $4.2 billion, putting it almost on a par with Singapore, the region’s secondbiggest market after Macau. That figure looks on track to be exceeded this year.

The Philippines enjoys strong tourism arrivals and has a growing domestic economy to underpin revenue streams, all good news to the IRs in Manila.

Solaire, the market leader is expected to retain its crown this year, despite increasing competition; Resorts World Manila is revamping and expanding its facilities to attract a wider customer base while combating the after effects of the 2017 fire incident; Melco’s City of Dreams Manila has long been a strong contributor to the Macau-based operator’s earnings, though recently Chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho has been less optimistic about the outlook there - as competition rises and with no expansion plans in the immediate horizon to drive growth; Okada Manila, the largest IR in the Philippines and the last to open its doors, is seeing a strong ramp up with an urgent need to add more hotel rooms to keep up with increasing demand.

The regional casinos may not get the same headline publicity as the bigger resorts in Manila, but smaller, profitable properties, are on the rise. A number are slated to open in coming years, which might shift the growth perspective, particularly in destinations such as Clark and Cebu. In these pages you’ll also find the most relevant updates throughout the Asian jurisdictions: In Macau, visitor gains are not fuelling GGR. Infrastructure improvements are expected to boost tourist arrivals to record levels in 2019, although there has not been a corresponding boost to gross gambling revenue, with the weak Chinese economy affecting sentiment among high-income players. Across the Delta, the Hong Kong Jockey Club has seen strong growth in its international business, with the addition of a pool on racing at Royal Ascot this year significantly boosting turnover. In the Northern Marianas, Tinian, crossed from the maps after Saipan’s licensing saga to Imperial Pacific, is set for another casino debut in 2020 as improved transport links open up the potential for tourism on the island. India, often referred to as Asia’s sleeping giant may still take some time to wake up, with little regulatory movement.

We also dedicate this edition of the Supplier Special Report to the MGS Summit. The show will be held on 12-14 November. The event is promising to facilitate business opportunities between exhibitors and buyers, whilst introducing new technologies to the industry.

In these pages you’ll browse through what you can expect to find on the show floor.

Asia Gaming Brief is a Media Partner of the event and you can find us at #BB29.

If you’d like to discuss our media platforms, Asia conferences and other industry events please write to MGS@agbrief.com to book meeting. See you at the show!

On behalf of Asia Gaming Brief

Rosalind Wade & Luis Pereira

Publishers