Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING | January 2011 40 Wide Area Networks Life Changer Wide area networks are set to spread across Asia, predicts Weike Gaming Technology CEO David Kinsman W hat sum would constitute a truly ‘life changing’ jackpot in Macau? On 20th November, the winner of Macau’s biggest ever 20¢ Hyperlink progressive jackpot walked away with over HK$7 million (US$897,436 million) in cash. Considering property prices in southern China and Hong Kong—the prevailing source markets for Macau casino patrons— that summay be regardedmore asmortgage relief than life changing. Indisputably life changing is theminimum US$10 million wide area progressive jackpot paid out by any one of the hundreds of Megabucks slot machines operated across Nevada by International Game Technology (IGT). The largest ever Megabucks jackpot was US$39.7 million, awarded in 2003 at a machine in The Excalibur Hotel and Casino. In Nevada, Megabucks and Aristocrat’s Millioni$er slot machines offer jackpots that accrue over hundreds of machines located across multiple properties. The machines are also owned and operated on a participation basis by their respective manufacturers. In Macau, there are no wide area jackpots operating between any of the 33 casinos or the handful of small but popular slot clubs, and the slot manufacturers have thus far not been able to operate their machines on a participation basis in the city. Although Macau’s six casino operators