Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING | September 2009 46 Casino Design P aul Steelman has become the go-to guy for Asian casino operators seeking to create crowd-pulling properties. His first big gaming splash in the region was the Sands Macao, which opened in May 2004 at an initial cost of US$265 million, and though followed by a string of billion-dollar- plus properties in the city, still packs in the crowds throughout the weeks. Inside Asian Gaming agrees with Mr Steelman’s claim that Sands Macao “still has the most energy of any casino here,” despite being built in a hurry to ensure it was the first post-monopoly casino to open in Macau, and on an odd-shaped plot of land. Sands Macao was widely-touted as Macau’s first Vegas-style property, but according to Mr Steelman: “When we created the Sands, we were instructed and decided this, that we did not want to create an American casino. In designing that facility, our goals were to design something new and non-American. “ “Somehow that message has got a little lost, and many of the [Macau] casino operators have tried to interject American type of gaming into this community. Consequently, some of the other casinos just don’t have the kind of energy that the Sands has.” Mr Steelman claims the only thingVegas- style about Sands Macao is its “people- watching excitement.” The inspiration to create a dynamic people-watching space, however, came not from the US, but from Macau, during Mr Steelman’s visit to Macau’s monopoly-era flagship casino, the Lisboa, about nine years ago. “When I sat down there and gambled one day, I was gambling and these people were watching me. And I said gambling here is more of a spectator sport. That’s why I said we should do the stadium casino. Be that as it may, I didn’t take too much of a chance here. I have high ceilings, and I have middle ceilings, and I have low ceilings. “I have all the ceiling heights. So if it failed miserably, I still would have been covering my bets. But in order for us to do that we had to invent certain things, like those ‘G-wings’ [which stand above the individual tables and contain lights and surveillance cameras], because it would have been too bright without them. We have a patent on those, by the way.” Sincerest form of flattery Inside Asian Gaming has witnessed many elements of Paul Steelman’s designs, particularly those at Sands Macao, imitated around Asia. In Macau, people wandering into former monopoly operator Stanley Ho’s new flagship Macau property, the Grand Lisboa, often observe that its stadium-style main gaming floor resembles the Sands, “with heaps of feng shui elements thrown in.” Even the G-wings above the tables have somehow made their way to the Grand Lisboa main floor. Meanwhile, casino operators who didn’t manage to enlist Mr Steelman’s services to create the original version of their properties still have the option of calling on him for a revamp. Galaxy Entertainment Group’s main Macau property, StarWorld Hotel & Casino, has been a consistent VIP earner since its opening in October 2006, but its mass revenues have lagged. The VIP spaces had always been more central to StarWorld’s business model, and given the property’s small plot size, the main gaming floor was constrained. However, keen competition and declining margins in the VIP sector, prompted Macau’s casino operators to redouble their efforts to court mass players. StarWorld’s solution was to commission Mr Steelman to revamp its main gaming floor. Galaxy proclaimed in an August press release to announce the completion of the revamp: “Every detail has been attended to, from the eye-catching crystal chandeliers to the clean air. To ensure the latter, StarWorld has installed a comprehensive air purifying The new look StarWorld main gaming floor Something Different Often imitated but never duplicated, world-renowned casino architect Paul Steelman— who makes a return appearance to the Asian Gaming 50 – 2009 —continues questioning the received wisdom on casino design