BOUNCE BACK, WITH TECH

March has been for Manila. Since the inception of the ASEAN Gaming Summit three years hence, Manila has played host to the industry to discuss the challenges and opportunities the region presents.

Due to safety and travel concerns stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak, AGB has made the decision to postpone the ASEAN Gaming Summit 2020 and announced the new dates of 28-30 July 2020 at the Shangri-La at the Fort. Going forward the industry will undoubtedly be focused on recovering from the recession caused by outbreak and arguably turning to technology to invert the trend. We dedicate this edition’s focus to how operators, both land-based and online, can incorporate new technology to improve operational efficiencies.

What’s already being used and what can we expect as we look into the crystal ball? We explore how AI and machine learning can foster interaction between product and patron but not without incurring the risk of losing that so defining human touch. As part of the tech series we hone on how technology can support responsible gaming practices and nurture customer loyalty.

In turn, we engaged with the industry’s leading manufacturers who - despite the never ending gloom from the headlines - are showing remarkable resilience in the face of the crisis, telling us they remain bullish on the prospects for Asia. The series of 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. Unsurprisingly, most of the suppliers were coming off a strong year in 2019 and before the crisis erupted were looking forward to a positive 2020. In these pages you’ll also find the most relevant updates across Asia’s 22 gaming jurisdictions that you’ve become accustomed to.

Starting off with Macau, the forced the closure of all properties for two weeks just after the key Chinese New Year crushed gross gambling revenue in February and it’s unlikely to fare much better in March, leaving operators grappling with how to control costs when revenue evaporates.

The Philippines was once again the best-performing market in Asia last year, with an impressive contribution from regional casinos, as well as the increasingly well-established integrated resorts in entertainment City. The impact of the outbreak in the jurisdiction remains to be seen. Across the straits, Singapore’s government has granted tax breaks and other incentives to the industry to help offset The impact of the Covid-19 virus on travel, though has chosen not to reduce its entry levy for locals. As of writing no other jurisdiction had followed suit in providing exemptions to operators.

Meanwhile, Japan has seen numerous twists and turns in its bid to establish an integrated resort industry, though perhaps one of the most unwelcome was the arrest of a deputy minister at the centre of a money-for-favours scandal surrounding Ir development plans for Okinawa and Hokkaido.

We are confident the industry will bounce back, resilient as it is. Our best wishes are with you all. Stay healthy, stay strong!

On behalf of Asia Gaming Brief Rosalind Wade & Luis Pereira

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