Inside Asian Gaming

November 2015 inside asian gaming 19 Feature At the time of writing we see just under 100 named exhibitors (and admittedly a number of “reserved” booths) on the show’s 2015 floor plan on its website, www.macaogamingshow.com . This is a far cry from the 146 exhibitors MGS said it had in 2014. Let’s hope there’s a late run on booths! This year we’re promised new and exciting elements such as the “Boom and Fire Zone” which is apparently an explosive area where first time exhibitors will be showing their wares in “individual and inspiring ways”. Will such elements be the boost MGS needs to see thronging crowds at the 2015 show? Watch this space. WHERE ARE THE JUNKETS? There’s no doubt MGS is perceived as the local “Chinese” show and G2E as the “American” show, so the strong support we saw from Macau’s junket industry for the inaugural MGS in 2013 was expected. This support was almost matched in 2014. But unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the last 12 months you can’t but help notice the absolute decimation of Macau’s VIP room industry over the last 12 months – with business down as much as 60% for some junket operators, some rooms closing and the high profile Dore scandal a big news item. Couple that with the fact that a junket business doesn’t really have much to exhibit at a trade show anyway and it’s unsurprising to see most of the junkets giving MGS 2015 a miss. But we do notice that Macau’s arguably top junket, Suncity, has a prominent booth at the show. NETWORKING The heart and soul of any gaming show are the networking opportunities it provides. In fact many established industry players argue this is where the real value of attending a show lies. It’s common to hear trade show conferences written off as passé and the show floor characterized as changing little from year to year but since everyone is in town at the same time trade shows create an excellent opportunity to catch up with important industry contacts. The MGS Official Networking Party will take place at Portofino restaurant on November 17 from 6pm to 9pm – but we’d like to see more opportunities during MSG (and G2E Asia for that matter) for industry people to catch up over a drink and talk shop. Many great business ideas germinate during such “lubricated” sessions. SHOW WARS The reality of the situation is that no one really wants the two gaming shows Macau currently hosts – MGS in November and G2E Asia in May. Inevitably, there has to be a winner and there has to be a loser allowing us all to consolidate our efforts into one big show each year. We here at IAG feel it makes sense that MGS ultimately should become the winner of this war, but they have much to learn from G2E while that battle plays out. Let’s adopt a wait and see approach, give the home-grown show the benefit of the doubt and hope they deliver something of value during the tougher times the Macau industry is currently experiencing. “The heart and soul of any gaming show are the networking opportunities it provides. In fact many established industry players argue this is where the real value of attending a show lies.” “We here at IAG feel it makes sense that MGS ultimately should become the winner of this war, but they have much to learn from G2E while that battle plays out.”