Inside Asian Gaming

inside asian gaming september 2016 50 Asian Gaming POWER 50 2 0 1 6 After five consecutive losing quarters, Bloomberry Resorts returned to profitability in the second quarter, thanks to improved performance at Solaire, the Philippines private casino market leader. Thomas Arasi has taken Solaire to the top after joining in late 2013 – seven months after Entertainment City’s first integrated resort opened. In late 2014, Solaire took the market lead from Resorts World Thomas Arasi PRESIDENT AND COO Solaire Resort and Casino Power 555 Last 25 Score Year Claims to Fame Returned Solaire to profitability in second quarter Serves as President, COO and Director of parent company Bloomberry Was CEO of Marina Bay Sands when it opened 50 Manila as it rolled out Sky Tower with 312 boutique suites, 10 new VIP salons, a Broadway style theater, luxury retail and more, bringing key count to 800, gaming tables to nearly 400 and machines above 1,800. In last year’s aftermath, Solaire’s interest expense and depreciation increased while gaming revenue growth slowed to 5%, gutting EBITDA by 49% to P5.2 billion (US$111 million) and turning 2014’s P4 billion profit into a P3.4 billion loss. In the first half of this year, featuring a torrid second quarter, Solaire has returned to profitability, setting records in EBITDA – up 60% to P5.3 billion, surpassing 2015’s full year total – gaming and non-gaming revenue and volume in all gaming segments. The entire Manila market is up, with a comeback in Chinese visitor arrivals, but management initiatives implemented by Mr Arasi and his team have amplified base trends. Honorable mentions Tony Fung Founder and Chairman, Aquis Hong Kong entrepreneur Tony Fung gave up on his dream of building a AU$8 billion casino mega-resort in Cairns earlier this year, removing the casino element from his plans. He says he will push ahead with the non-gaming elements but this suggests a much smaller investment. For now, Mr Fung is largely focussed on his AU$330 million redevelopment of Canberra Casino. Stephen Hung Co-Chairman and Executive Director, The 13 Once touted as being the most luxurious hotel on earth, the big question on everyone’s lips right now is whether Stephen Hung’s The 13 will open its doors at all. And if it does, more questions await – such as will the DICJ award Mr Hung the 66 tables he craves? And will the VIPs come at all? Right now it’s all a waiting game. Louis Ng Executive Director and COO, SJM While Angela Leong and Ambrose So represent the face of SJM, Louis Ng is one of the company’s most experienced executives. He joined STDM in 1978 and has been an Executive Director at SJM since 2002. He is also the company’s resident wine expert and largely responsible for Grand Lisboa’s world renowned wine cellar. No doubt that will come in handy when Lisboa Palace opens in 2018. Hajimi Satomi Chairman, President and CEO, Sega Sammy Holdings Like many of the classic video game companies, Sega recognized that gambling represented its best chance of staying relevant into the future when it merged with pachinko venture Sammy in 2004. And Sega Sammy isn’t messing around – partnering with Korea’s Paradise Group to build a US$1.2 billion IR in Incheon. It opens in early 2017 with plenty riding on it for both companies. Steven Tight President for International Development, Caesars Entertainment Caesars has lost its partner on its IR in Incheon, but Mr Tight says it is awaiting regulatory approval for a new investor. In the Philippines, regulator Pagcor’s previous leadership rejected Caesars’ proposal for an airport IR in Manila, but the Caesars brand could look good on Pagcor’s casinos, which the government has ordered sold.