Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING | April 2010 14 F rom a US$5.6 million temporary casino facility it set up in the Cagayan Special Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) in Northern Luzon, the Philippines, Salon International has rapidly built one of themost successful online gaming operations in Asia. CEZAwas set up as a freeport by the Philippine Government in 1995, and is Asia’s first and so far only issuer of internationally recognised licences for companies providing online offshore gaming content and services. Salon kicked off its online gaming and proxy phone betting operations in mid-September last year. Within three months, it had generatedcombinedgaming turnover of US$10billion, gross revenue of US$180 million and EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) of over US$15 million. By November, Salon’s total internet betting turnover had surpassed US$3 billion per month, while phone betting turnover exceeded US$1 billion per month, and the business looks set to continue ramping up. High-rollers constitute the bulk of Salon’s customers. Salon has around 500 active players on any given day, who place over 24 million bets per month. The average bet for online betting is around US$140, and the average expenditure per active player per month is around US$85,000. Licensed to thrill Salon has been granted three distinct 25-year licenses by the Blazing Salon After making an explosive entry to Asia’s burgeoning online gaming market Salon International is now poised to broaden its offering to high net worth gamblers in the region by developing an expansive beachfront casino resort—all under the watchful eye of its chairman, Leung Chi Kuong Leung Chi Kuong This screen shows a live gaming table on the gaming floor in real time Salon gaming proxy betting interactive page Salon International