Inside Asian Gaming

August 2010 | INSIDE ASIAN GAMING 35 Asian Gaming 50 – 2010 29 (-) Lam Iao Founder & CEO Laxino Technology Ltd 30 (34) Cath Burns Managing Director and Vice President Asia-Pacific Bally Technologies Macau is seriously lacking in career opportunities outside the casinos. A major factor behind Lam Iao’s decision to establish Laxino Technology Ltd in June of 2008 was a desire to enable aspiring local software developers to pursue their vocation in his hometown. Mr Iao himself got his start in IT overseas. After graduating from the University of Texas with a masters degree in computer science and mathematics, he worked on both the equipment supplier and casino operator sides of the gaming industry, first in the US for leading slot machine manufacturer Atronic, then returning to Macau to work at Wynn Resorts and MGM Macau. He has also shared his knowledge in both IT and gaming management as a lecturer at the University of Texas and the University of Macau. At Laxino, Mr Iao has assembled a world-class team of IT professionals with the requisite gaming expertise to pursue the company’s mandate to provide innovative technological and multimedia entertainment solutions designed to boost the operations of online and land-based casinos. Laxino offers full technical support for online game operators: software development and customisation, hardware setup, infrastructure design and system integration. The company also provides IT services to land-based operators, and serves as a slot machine distributor and business operations consultancy. The company’s fast-growing game development division has produced a variety of peer-to-peer and e-games, including online slots, blackjack, video poker and Texas Hold ‘em, as well as a range of ‘mini games’ such as Fa Fa Fa, Fish-Prawn Crab and Lucky Dice. Further games are in the works on Laxino’s business roadmap. Recently, Laxino also implemented the entire IT infrastructure for a newly-opened five-star hotel and casino in Macau, including establishing the property’s internal IT department, installing an integrated casino management system and property management system and offering advice on how to streamline the property’s business operational processes to match local regulatory requirements. Laxino has partnered with a Korea-based slot machine manufacturer, andprovides content for thegames, includinggraphics and mathematics, as well as obtaining jurisdictional approvals prior to sales. Laxino is the only company in Asia that supplies slot manufacturers GLI approved content. Mr Iao observes that because most other gaming software development companies active in Asia are based in Europe, Laxino is well positioned to offer Asian customers more responsive service and support, and has a unique sensitivity to local tastes and needs. Bally’s Cath Burns has had a busy and successful 12 months. She led the growth of the company in the competitive market for casino-management systems inMacau, as well as masterminding Bally’s re-launch in the complex and carefully regulated Australia and New Zealand markets. In January, Bally announced a deal withMacau casino operator Galaxy Entertainment Group to provide comprehensive table, slot, and casino- management systems across its StarWorld Hotel & Casino and Galaxy Macau properties. StarWorld Hotel & Casino, Galaxy’s flagship property on the Macau peninsula, was the first casino in the Asia-Pacific region to use Bally’s iVIEW Display Manager (DM)™ and Bally Business Intelligence™ solutions. Bally also has a strategic agreement to roll out its gaming management products across several Macau gaming properties operated by SJM, Dr Stanley Ho’s casino operating business. The products include: Bally Table Management Systems™ (TMS), a suite of technologies for automated table tracking; Bally Casino MarketPlace™ (CMP) casino management software; and Bally Slot Data System® (SDS) for slot floor monitoring. Bally installedTMS, CMP, and SDS at the SJM-licensed L’Arc when it opened in September last year and at SJM’s Casino Oceanus at the time of its December launch. In addition, Bally went live with the 40-year old Casino Lisboa’s first table-management system earlier this year. Ms Burns is widely considered to be one of the rising stars of Asian gaming, recognised for her leadership and performance in building Bally’s market share in slots and systems in Macau fromwhat amounted to a standing start. She has also shown another key attribute of quality leadership—the ability to create a strong local team capable of executing her plans and developing the regional business via their individual insights and initiatives. That has allowed her to play a key role in the company’s launch in Australia and New Zealand, knowing that the core business in the rest of the region is fully supported. “Re-entry into the Australia market is probably the single most important new plan for us to execute over the next 12 to 18 months,” Ms Burns told Inside Asian Gaming last year. Ms Burns has also shown another important leadership quality—focus. “Australia, being the largest [slot] gaming market in Asia-Pacific, is an entry that we will get right,” she told IAG . “It’s not a question of going in and putting a toe in the water. Australia is a market that must have true commitment from a company to be successful, and we have that commitment. We’ll be entering the market with a strong foundation for success. We have great respect for the Australian gaming market and want to build our business the right way. Our focus on building the business the right way is the same focus that we have had in building Macau and the rest of Asia.” In August, Bally Technologies announced two key appointments to boost the management team for Bally’s Australia and New Zealand business. Michael McNee was named Managing Director of Bally Australia, with Ron Jeffrey taking the role of Sales Manager for Bally Australia. Both will be based at Bally’s new regional office in Sydney, New South Wales.