Inside Asian Gaming

May 2011 | INSIDE ASIAN GAMING 23 corrupt in its approach to gaming regulation. The unfortunate side effect of this in the contemporary market, say industry sources, is it tends to create a‘siege mentality’among regulators and some Macau lawmakers. The result canbe suspicion and some resentment on both sides. Ultimately, that feeds through to the market in terms of a log-jam on product approvals, they say. One theory doing the rounds in Macau is that officials see automated and semi- automated table games as a threat to local casino dealer jobs and possibly as a way for operators to get around the 5,500 cap on live table numbers in the market between now and the end of 2013. “I don’t agree with the thesis that this is related to job protection for locals,” says the gaming law expert. “Assuming the 5,500 table game cap is reached shortly, that means about another 700 tables in the market, requiring 2,100 new dealers [three dealers working on each table in eight-hour shifts each day]. If the government goes ahead with [former Macau chief executive] Edmund Ho’s proposal to raise the casino entry age limit from 18 to 21, I suspect this will simply exacerbate the existing shortage.” The fact that people are willing to question rulings by the DICJ may look to some like a case of double standards. Singapore’s Casino Regulatory Authority is famously finicky in its approach to product approvals, but no one in the industry dares say anything even on a non-attributable basis to the media for fear of commercial suicide in that market. But the fact people are talking openly in Macau about their dissatisfaction must raise questions about how efficient the current consultation system is. Now may be the time for serious discussion of new terms of engagement— including formal regulations on electronic gaming—to build bridges and restore confidence between industry and regulator. Ultimately that could mean a better industry for all the stake holders. Overprotected workforce?—Macau’s dealer shortage is set to worsen Cover Story