SUPPLIER SPECIAL REPORT 44
SUPPLIERS SPECIAL INTRO
Suppliers seek to shake off Covid-19 gloom There is no doubt that Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on the gaming industry across Asia, with no clear end in sight to the crisis. A two week closure of casinos in Macau, travel restrictions across the region and disruptions to manufacturing supply chains are all taking their toll.
D
espite the never ending gloom from the headlines, suppliers are showing remarkable resilience in the face of the crisis, with most telling us they remain bullish on the prospects for Asia. Many are coming off a strong year in 2019 and before the crisis erupted were looking forward to a positive 2020. In this edition of the Supplier Special, we ask companies for their views on what impact the virus is having on their business plans. The most common response is that it has curbed travel and networking opportunities, with events such as the ASEAN Gaming Summit, being postponed until later into the year. In the online sphere, many companies are reporting a bump in business from the coronavirus as gamers take to the screens in the privacy of their own homes to play. Here, we hear about the increasing use of mobile technology, which in the space of a few short years has grown to dominate the market, forcing suppliers to adapt their product offering.
Asia Gaming Briefings | March 2020
Most companies say they are pressing ahead with their agendas and expect activity to pick up rapidly once the virus is contained. Asia remains a key focus for those who already have business in the region and for those who are still trying to get their feet on the ground. In the interviews, we also ask about key trends suppliers are noticing in the Asian markets and in which areas they are seeing most growth. Perhaps not surprisingly, the Philippines comes out on top for land-based suppliers, being once again the best-performing market in Asia last year. The government has placed a moratorium on investment in new integrated resorts in Manila, but is keen to see the development of clusters elsewhere in the country. Last year, it was casinos in the Clark Freeport Zone that led growth. Vietnam is also seen as a strong contender, while in the online world India continues to create considerable buzz. The interviews provide an insight into the trends and growth patterns across the Asian market as a whole, as well as the development plans of the individual companies.
