Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING | September 2012 64 Briefs Regional Briefs announcement at this time”, declared John Edmunds, VP Global Product Management & International Markets. “Since joining FutureLogic in September 2008, Alfred has been instrumental in expanding FutureLogic’s businesses in Macau and Australia while delivering substantial revenue growth across the region.” “In the past four years, Alfred has helped shape FutureLogic’s sales & marketing strategy across APR and developed strategic relationships with key customers, distribution partners, and sales representatives”, continued Mr Edmunds. “Alfred has brought to the company important insights into building relationships and conducting business interests in Asia, making him a critical part of our international management team.” Movement on Japanese Casinos Unlikely Until at Least 2013 According to a Union Gaming note: “Following last month’s passage of a sales tax increase in Japan and general political turmoil (Prime Minister contest next month, early elections perhaps in October, constituent outrage across a number of policy decisions), we now find it highly unlikely that gaming expansion will move in 2012.” The note adds that although the ordinary session of Japan’s Diet has now been extended to end on September 8th, and Union Gaming believes the bipartisan Diet has nearly reached consensus on a draft casino bill, typical political chaos has ruled out the passage of a draft casino bill during the current ordinary session. Even if an extraordinary session commences, it will focus on emergency issues, which would likely exclude gaming. The next ordinary session of the Diet is scheduled to begin in April 2013, in which gaming will likely be revisited. However, the landscape may include yet another new prime minister—as current PM, Yoshihiko Noda, split his ruling DPJ with the sales tax increase and other unpopular decisions—and a removal of the ruling DPJ from power as the party has broken “all” election pledges. While the casino measure has been a partisan one in Japan, there has been bipartisan support. We don’t believe the removal of the DPJ from power would impair casino momentum in 2013, unless there is an unlikely communist party election victory. Union Gaming believes “there is latent demand for the issuance of gaming licenses in Japan from numerous political interests (and prefectures) primarily to help achieve ambitious inbound tourism targets, and to address the negative tax impact that will arise from an aging population that increasingly exits the workforce. The impact of a sales tax increase (if it takes effect, as it has a trigger that is subject to interpretation), will seemingly play a role in the casino story going forward—at least from our perspective. There is risk that it will grind economic activity to a halt. If so, a case could be made that gaming expansion is critical for economic stimulus, not just for tourism targets. We strongly believe the ultimate bill will require a two-step selection process (national followed by local) ultimately resulting in a unique public-private partnership with casino operators for three initial Integrated Resorts in the country—we suspect in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.” Hun Sen Says Casinos Are “Secret Strategy” to Protect Cambodia According to an AFP report, last month, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said allowing the construction of a spate of border casinos was part of a “secret strategy” to protect the country’s territory from its neighbours. “I don’t like casinos, but the biggest goal for giving permission to build casinos is to protect the border,” he told parliament during a five-hour speech addressing border demarcation issues with Vietnam. “One can remove border markers, but one can’t remove five- storey hotels. Don’t be stupid,”Hun Sen said, in response toopposition criticism that the gambling dens were harmful to the country. Cambodia’s border with Vietnam and Thailand is dotted with dozens of casinos and accompanying hotels catering mostly to foreign gamblers since Cambodians are not legally allowed to gamble. “You force me to talk about it. This should be a secret strategy to protect the nation,” the strongman premier said in typically feisty fashion. Hun Sen used the marathon address, which was broadcast live on television, to deny long-standing claims from themain opposition party that his government was allowing Vietnam to encroach on Cambodian territory. Cambodia and Vietnam officially began demarcating their 1,270-kilometer border in September 2006 after decades of territorial disputes stemming from French colonial times. According to Hun Sen, some 700 kilometers have been demarcated so far. FutureLogic’s Alfred Hwee Promoted to Direct Asia Pacific FutureLogic, Inc., one of the world’s leading developers of innovative ticket printing and couponing solutions, announced last month that following significant growth throughout his territory together with increasing business responsibilities, Alfred Hwee has been promoted to Business Development Director for the Asia Pacific Region (APR). “I am delighted to make this Prime Minister Hun Sen Alfred Hwee, left, and John Edmunds Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda