Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING | October 2010 44 Briefs Regional Briefs Weike given advisory role by Singapore government Weike Gaming Technology, Singapore’s only domestically-based gaming equipment manufacturer, has been drafted in to advise the city-state’s government on how to develop the fledgling casino industry. Weike was certified in April as an Approved Manufacturer and Approved Supplier of gaming machines and gaming equipment by Singapore’s Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA). Less well known is that for the past 18 months, the company has also been a member of the Singapore Accreditation Council, helping to draw up standards for gaming testing laboratories wishing to operate within the jurisdiction. As a Singapore business,Weike also qualified for financial support from SPRING Singapore, the city’s enterprise development agency. “Singapore’sstandardsforgamingregulationandforaccreditation as an approved supplier are probably the most exacting in the world. But if a company follows the rules, then Singapore plays fair in return,” says David Kinsman, Weike’s CEO. “Weike—both as a recipient of government support and as an advisory partner to the Accreditation Council—is very honoured to have been singled out for special mention as a SPRING Singapore success story.” Star appointment for Galaxy Macau Peter Johns, the outgoing (in every sense) former Director of Slot Operations at MGM Macau, has taken up his new post as Vice President of Electronic Gaming at Galaxy Macau. Galaxy Macau, the new Cotai resort from Galaxy Entertainment Group, isn’t due to open until the end of the first quarter next year. The opening may possibly spill over into the second quarter because of Macau’s construction labour bottlenecks. That hiatus means there’s less risk of MGM Macau’s VIP slot players (of which Mr Johns says there is a healthy number) migrating with him. He will, however, take with him to Galaxy Macau some insight into MGM Resorts International’s very successful customer loyalty programme. Mr Johns reportedly adapted that successfully for the Macau market. He told a conference session at G2E Asia in June that he and his team at MGM Macau had managed to sign up more than 50% of slots players for carded play—well above the Macau market average. He also suggested that on his watch, slot play at MGM Macau was accounting each month for at least 20% and sometimes 30% of mass-market revenue. That will be music to the ears of his new employers. They have conceived Galaxy Macau as a venue with significant mass-market appeal to complement the VIP focus of StarWorld and the City Clubs. Nathan Carle, Slot Operations Manager at MGM Macau, has stepped up to Mr Johns’ former role. LVS contemplates name change Las Vegas Sands Corp (LVS) is contemplating a corporate name change to reflect its growing international presence. Themove would eliminate Las Vegas from the casino operator’s title. In an interview with Dow Jones News Service while visiting Hong Kong last month, LVS Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson said the company would become either Sands International or Sands Resort International “to reflect that we’re not just in Las Vegas.” Company spokesman Ron Reese said following Mr Adelson’s comments that a decision on a new name has not been made, but “discussions had taken place at the highest levels of the company.” Mr Adelson said the name change might be submitted for a vote at the next board of directors meeting. Mr Reese said the meeting could take place sometime in November when LVS reports third-quarter earnings. LVS is the largest American casino operator in Macau. The company operates three casinos in the city, including the Sands Macao and the 3,000-roomVenetian Macao, which is at the entrance to the Cotai Strip. In the second quarter that ended 30th June, LVS reported US$276.2 million in revenues from The Venetian and Palazzo in Las Vegas, compared with US$1.04 billion in Macau. The company recently restarted construction on its stalled development projects on two Cotai Strip sites (plots 5 and 6). Construction was halted in November 2008 when lending for Galaxy Macau Cotai 5 and 6