Inside Asian Gaming

inside asian gaming December 2014 44 Georgia on Lawrence Ho’s Mind The main investors in Lawrence Ho’s planned US$700 million casino in Vladivostok in Russia’s Far East are joining forces on a smaller casino venture in the republic of Georgia. MelcoLot, a lottery products and services provider to mainland China and a subsidiary of Mr Ho’s principal investment vehicle, Hong Kong-listed Melco International Development, is teaming with Taiwan machine gaming manufacturer Firich Enterprises, also a MelcoLot investor, on the Georgia project. Firich, which is part of the Summit Ascent consortium pursuing the Vladivostok casino, will join with Georgian and other Taiwanese investors to buy shares in a MelcoLot vehicle called Express Wealth Enterprises. The plan is to raise US$50 million for the casino, which will be located in the capital of Tbilisi. MelcoLot will own 42.7% of Express Wealth Enterprises and Firich 31.6%. Express Wealth will apply for a 15-year gaming license, which if approved will allow it to launch construction ahead of a planned early 2016 opening. “MelcoLot will be responsible for the management and operations as well as maintaining relations with government officials in Georgia,” Melco International said. Target markets include Europe and regions where casinos are prohibited, such as the Middle East, Turkey and Georgia’s Caucasus neighbor Azerbaijan. Last year, revenues generated from Georgia’s casino industry, which is concentrated in Tbilisi and the Black Sea port city of Batumi, home to five venues, accounted for roughly 2% of the government budget. Cath Burns Leaves TCSJOHNHUXLEY Cath Burns has left TCSJOHNHUXLEY after two and a half years as chief executive of the London-based table games equipment and technologies provider. Ms Burns’ last day was 21st November, according to a corporate announcement, which said Executive Chairman Tristan Sjöberg will assume her responsibilities. It was not mentioned if the company will look for a new CEO. The highly regarded Ms Burns joined TCS in March 2012 after six years as vice president-Asia-Pacific for Bally Technologies, where she was instrumental in helping the Las Vegas-based slot giant re- establish itself as a force in the region, leading its return to Australia and New Zealand after years without a presence in either country and directing its growth on the systems side, where it has become a leading player with installations in several of Macau’s largest casinos and in Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. “Under her leadership TCSJOHNHUXLEY has developed innovative products and services with committed product road maps, which protect our customers’ investment in us and in turn provide strategic growth for the future,” Mr Sjöberg said. The company also announced the formation of a new Table Games Division headed by another Bally alumnus, Bobby Liscio, who will direct the unit as it sources, develops and expands its portfolio of proprietary games, side bets and progressive and bonusing solutions. He also will work closely with the sales teams worldwide to assist with game implementation and installation and provide support and training to casino operators. Mr Liscio brings 27 years of operations experience to the role and most recently served eight years as a member of Bally’s Professional Services division. Top Team Takes Helm at SciGames-Bally Bally and WMS executives will dominate the diverse team of industry veterans heading the new Scientific Games conglomerate. At the top is Gavin Isaacs, deal-maker par excellence, who will serve as president, CEO and a member of the board of directors. Most recently chief executive of SHFL entertainment, he engineered SHFL’s 2013 acquisition by Bally Technologies, where he’d previously served as executive vice president and COO. As widely reported, he was instrumental in steering the US$5.1 billion mega-merger completed last month that brings together Bally- SHFL and Scientific Games-WMS under the banner of New York- based lottery giant SciGames and its billionaire chairman Ron Perelman, the LBO tycoon whom Mr Isaacs served as an advisor. Alongside Mr Isaacs is another Bally alumnus, Scott Schweinfurth, serving as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Highly regarded on Wall Street, he is best-known for his 13 years managing the finances at WMS, where he served as executive vice president, CFO and treasurer. In April, he took over the same roles with SciGames, which had acquired WMS in January 2013 in the $1.5 billion deal that touched off the current wave of consolidation among the biggest names in slot machines. Derik Mooberry, another top name at Bally and an INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS Lawrence Ho Gavin Isaacs Cath Burns