Inside Asian Gaming

4 BACKWARDS INTO THE FUTURE Casino advocates in Japan have been waiting 10 years for a law to bring resort-scale gambling to the world’s third-largest economy. Analysts can barely contain their enthusiasm when they ponder the possibilities. C O N T E N T S COVER STORY FEATURES 10 Going Legit Last month’s release from prison of the notorious “Broken Tooth” Wan Kuok Koi won’t spark a return to the bad old days of triad turf wars. There’s too much at stake in the new Macau. 30 Redrawing the Road Map It’s a retooled, repurposed TCSJOHNHUXLEY entering the new year, eager to build on its successes in Asia as both a top distributor and an imaginative developer of table games and supporting systems. 34 Roaring Back Chairman and CEO Jim Murren has fortified MGM Resorts International and positioned it for a new era of post-recession growth. IN FOCUS 26 Built for Speed It has been accused by some as an attempt to skirt Macau’s table cap, but Sands China’s new Fast Action Baccarat is much, much more. HOT GAMES 16 The Play’s the Thing On the strength of an array of fresh content and dynamic player experiences, WMS Gaming is looking for broader appeal and deeper penetration into Asia. 18 More Than Fun Tireless innovation and pragmatism are critical to Aruze Gaming America’s mission to become one of the world’s leading gaming machine manufacturers. TECH TALK 22 RFID’s Revival The perception of radio frequency identification as applied to casino currency has been sullied by several false starts. But that’s now changing, in large part thanks to the efforts of Gaming Partners International. BRIEFS 40 Regional Briefs 42 International Briefs