Inside Asian Gaming

September 2009 | INSIDE ASIAN GAMING 31 of considerable insight into how table games from other manufacturers can utilise and integrate with GPI’s radio frequency identification technology, both at the cage end of the casino floor and at tableside. From 2002 to 2006, Mr Gronau served as Vice President of Operations for Shuffle Master Inc., a major supplier of automatic card shufflers and proprietary table games. At Shuffle Master, he oversaw software and hardware research for two product lines and directed manufacturing operations for all products. From 2006 to 2008, Mr Gronau was President and Chief Executive Officer of Cadillac Jack, a supplier of innovative games and systems to the gaming industry. The latter company recently announced plans to expand into the Asian market. Between 1996 and 2002, Mr Gronau served as Director of Operations and Business Planning for WMS Industries Inc., a major maker of lottery terminals and slot machines, then as Vice President of Distribution Services for that company. 39 (-) Gregory S. Gronau Chief Executive Officer Gaming Partners International Corporation Asian Gaming 50 – 2009 Gregory S. Gronau is a new entry on this year’s Asian Gaming 50 – 2009 . He earns his place as the newly appointedChief Executive Officer of Gaming Partners International Corporation (GPI), an industry-leading supplier of gaming chips and plaques. GPI is not only one of the longest-serving equipment providers to the Macau market, with a 42-year track record, but it is also one of the most dominant, currently claiming a market share of around 90%. Mr Gronau joined GPI in October 2008 as Chief Operating Officer. He has the benefit Advertise with Inside Asian Gaming For advertising enquiries, please email: ads@asgam.com or call Matt at: +852 95797383 40 (39) Arthur M. Wang Chief Executive Officer and Director, GigaMedia Ltd Arthur Wang, the CEO, also said his company had responded to the challenging trading conditions by reducing costs and increasing efficiency. In the first half of 2009, the company’s performance was hit by the euro weakening against the US dollar. GigaMedia said at that time it was in talks with an undisclosed party regarding a possible strategic partnership on its poker and casino software business. After the Q1 ’09 results were released in June, Mr Wang struck an optimistic note, particularly in relation to the growth of China’s non-casino games market. “We believe we have hit bottom in this cyclical downturn and that the second half will see renewed strength in Europe. And in Asia, we are looking at our best year ever, with strong top and bottom-line growth,” he stated. In its Q1 ’09 results announcement, the company said it achieved poker and casino software revenues of US$31.7 million, in line with expectations. It said active depositing poker players held steady quarter- over-quarter, while the number of new depositing players grew slightly during the period. In Asia, GigaMedia’s online games revenues amounted to US$12.7 million for Q1, up 33% quarter-over-quarter on strong organic growth. GigaMedia’s casual games portal, FunTown, and its online sports and casual game unit in China, T2CN Holding Limited, saw revenues surge 27% and 43%, respectively. In June, the company reported global Q1 ’09 revenues of US$44.4 million and net income of US$4.8 million. As well as being CEO of GigaMedia, Mr Wang is also a member of the board of Linmark Group, a Hong Kong Stockmarket- listed global sourcing firm, where he serves as chair of the compensation committee. Previously, Mr Wang was a managing partner of 698 Capital Limited, an Asian investment firm, as well as an executive director of KGI Asia Limited, where he served as head of corporate finance. He also served as an investment advisor and boardmember of UFJ Asia Finance Technology Fund of the UFJ Group (formerly the Sanwa Bank Group of Japan), and as a board member and directorofSoftbankInvestmentInternational (Strategic) Limited, the Hong Kong-listed arm of Softbank Corporation. Mr Wang is also a trained lawyer. Earlier in his career he practised corporate and securities law in the NewYork and Hong Kong offices of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. GigaMedia, a Taiwan-based online entertainment business, has not been immune from the global financial crisis. A significant portion of its revenues come from Europe, where it operates the market leading Everest poker software and runs complementary live poker tournaments. Increasingly, however, GigaMedia has been focusing on provision of non-casino online content in the Greater China market, including role-playing and casual games.