Inside Asian Gaming

inside asian gaming July 2016 18 by the players before play recommenced. The process took around 15 minutes which was lost revenue. At SkyCity in Auckland I was General Manager Gaming. SkyCity opened as a joint venture between Harrah’s and SkyCity in 1995. After about two years SkyCity bought out Harrah’s and I was employed two months prior to the departure of Harrah’s in 1998. My role was to oversee the gaming operations of the group, to set up the new casino and be a part of the team that looked to acquire other operational casinos. We opened two new casinos in Industry profile gaming industry. I had been to Macau in 1979 and it was very different! IAG: What were your early impressions upon moving to Macau? MC: One of the main things I had to get used to was the politeness. Quite often when I wanted something or asked for something I would get a polite yes but what they really meant was no which was something I had to learn. They’re too polite to tell you no at times. They just say yes, then nothing happens. Now I know to ask them, “Is that a ‘no’ yes or a ‘yes’ yes?” In Australia if someone disagrees with you they’ll offer their point of view. That was a big thing I had to get used to – particularly when setting up Galaxy StarWorld. IAG: How did working at Galaxy compare with your previous experiences at properties in Australia and New Zealand? MC: My time with Galaxy was very enjoyable. I was VP of Gaming Operations at StarWorld and later became part of the Galaxy Macau pre-opening team. I had tables, slots, security, surveillance and New Zealand – Sky Riverside Hamilton and SkyCity Queenstown. We looked to purchase properties in the US, Africa, Europe and Australia and eventually we purchased both the Adelaide and Darwin casinos in Australia. IAG: How did you come to be based in Macau? MC: After SkyCity I worked for TCSJohnHuxley and regularly travelled to Macau in 2004 and 2005 before moving here permanently in November 2005. Sands had opened in 2004 and it was clear that there was huge growth potential for the “One of the main things I had to get used to in Macau was the politeness. Quite often when I wanted something or asked for something I would get a polite yes but what they really meant was no, which was something I had to learn. They’re too polite to tell you no.” Mick Caban was part of the pre-opening team at Galaxy Macau