Inside Asian Gaming

October 2015 inside asian gaming 45 to IGT Advantage 9.x system integrated with sbX application, which features Floor Manager and a range of bonusing and play- enhancing applications. “IGT systems applications will help us deliver customized entertainment experiences and access to resort amenities that truly make our guests feel special,” Wynn Las Vegas president Maurice Wooden said. Renato Ascoli, chief executive of North America gaming and interactive at IGT, added: “We are pleased to provide our comprehensive system solutions and applications to complement IGT’s leading floor share of games at Wynn Las Vegas. “IGT systems are designed to optimize floor efficiency and drive player engagement, and Wynn Resorts can leverage our unique applications to provide guests with unparalleled gaming experiences and personalized service.” A$8BN Aquis Project Revived Analysts said they expected volatility to continue in the Strip’s baccarat business given a likely slowdown in Chinese players. “On the whole, the August results were uninspiring,” said Stifel Nicolaus gaming analyst Steven Wieczynski. “At this point, given the swirling macroeconomic uncertainties in China, we expect the Strip baccarat business to remain under pressure indefinitely.” Overall table game revenue fell 16.4% on the Strip. Slot revenue on the Strip increased 12.1%. “We note that the summer is skewed toward the leisure segment,” said Wells Fargo Securities gaming analyst Cameron McKnight. “In our view, the softness in gaming volumes is reflective of the current leisure customer increasingly younger, international and nightlife-oriented versus gaming focused. The collapse on the Strip during the month was offset by increases in other areas of Clark County. Downtown casinos grew revenue 15%—the market’s 11th increase in the last 13 months. Mr McKnight said a “clear renaissance” is taking shape in downtown. North Las Vegas was up 21% and the Boulder Strip market grew almost 30%. Mesquite was the only other area in Clark County that reported a gaming revenue decline in August, with totals falling 1.9%. Britney Spears Premieres Her Aristocrat Slot Game International superstar Britney Spears recently took her show from the stage to the casino floor to premiere Aristocrat’s Britney Spears Slot Game at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. According to the property, the slot machines have already become an overnight success on the casino floor with lines forming day and night. The Britney Spears Slot Game appears on Aristocrat Technologies’ newest stage, The ARC Double cabinet with the surround sound iChair. The newest addition to casino floors across the country features Britney’s most popular top-charting hits, including “Hit Me Baby One More Time,” “Toxic,” “3,” “Oops I Did It Again” and “Crazy”. The game has two base features, four entertaining bonus features and a $10,000 single site progressive jackpot. IGT Secures Systems Agreement with Wynn Resorts International Game Technology (IGT) has agreed a deal with Wynn Resorts to install a suite of systems applications at a number of properties owned by the casino operator. Under the agreement, IGT systems applications will be installed at the Wynn Las Vegas in the US state of Nevada, as well as the Wynn Palace in Macau and Wynn Everett in Massachusetts upon completion of their construction. The server-based systems installation will include an upgrade INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS The A$8 billion integrated resorts planned for Cairns appears to be back on track following stalled negotiations with the Queensland government. State Treasurer Curtis Pitt announced last month that the team behind the Aquis Great Barrier Reef Resort project had signed an agreement to re-enter the government’s integrated resort development (IRD) process. Mr Pitt said investor Tony Fung had withdrawn from the process in February following stalled negotiations with the previous Liberal National Party government. He said the latest development was a vote of confidence in the state. “Following the election, the Palaszczuk government sought to engage in positive discussions with Mr Fung and we welcome his company’s commitment to re-entering the IRD process,” Mr Pitt said. “The IRD process is a rigorous way to protect the community’s interests and also evaluate Aquis’ credentials and financial capacity to deliver this project.” The proposed development is planned to start with a $3.5 billion stage and once the resort is fully operational it could create up to 16,000 jobs, Mr Pitt said. The development, to be built at Yorkeys Knob, north of Cairns, is meant to include 7,500 hotel rooms, a convention and exhibition center, two casinos, a golf course and an artificial lake and lagoon. “We remain committed to the Aquis Yorkeys Knob project as part of our overall strategic investment plans for Australia,” Mr Fung said. The government will ask Aquis for a detailed proposal in the near future. Rendering of the planned Aquis Great Barrier Reef Resort