Inside Asian Gaming

inside asian gaming November 2015 22 moments of my life. I need to thank Joe Hachem for that as the US team wanted to have a BBQ with Joe and part of my role was to look after Joe as he was our Poker Ambassador and I got to tag along that night. Another great story is the night I hosted a function and I gave away $1 million dollars to one lucky customer. I will keep it brief but basically the customer won this opportunity after being selected out of 600 people in the audience. He had to choose one number on a roulette table and if the dealer spun that number he would win a million dollars. He chose 17 and the dealer spun 17! Amazing, the guy just won a million bucks! It was an incredible moment and it changed his life forever. IAG: Why did you and your wife Margaret decide to leave Melbourne and come to Macau? JP: Ever since our friends came in 2005, we had been considering the move but we had commitments back home. Last year we felt the timing was right so we started looking into job opportunities here. In November, Margaret was offered the role as Vice President of Premium Mass and Jinmen at Galaxy Macau and headed here in January this year. I stayed at Crown to oversee the 2015 Aussie Millions and made my way here in late February. IAG: What do you see as the major differences between the Australian and Macau gaming industries? JP: The short answer is volume and price point. Even though numbers are down in Macau the volumes I see at the properties are staggering and the price points in Macau compared to casinos in Australia are a lot higher. IAG: How has the transition been compared to what you expected? JP: Surprisingly easy as we have a lot of good friends here who have been very supportive. It’s amazing to think that I look outside my window in our apartment and across the water is China! IAG: As you were looking for a new role here in Macau did you feel typecast as a poker guy? JP: I could say I was a bit of a victim of my own success but my last role at Crown was Vice President of Customer and Commercial Development, so I was responsible for growing Crown’s major events through increased visitation from VIP customers but also increasing revenue through sponsorship, so I had little to do with the day-to-day running of poker. My role was about building relationships and marketing events but people still definitely associated me as a “poker guy”. IAG: Tell us a bit about your new job. JP: I have started with TCSJOHNHUXLEY as Director of Sales throughout Asia. It’s a great opportunity and one I am very thankful for. The company is regarded as the world’s leading manufacturer and supplier of end-to-end live gaming solutions and services, with a diverse portfolio of traditional and technology-based products. The new technology on the Gaming Floor Live platform is particularly exciting as we are able to offer operators access to data and information across all their tables, which drives both revenue and efficiencies. IAG: What’s it like working for a supplier after all these years working for an operator? JP: Based on my last role, it’s very similar. It’s all about relationships. As a supplier, our business is driven by our clients so it’s important we listen and understand what they are trying to achieve and develop products and services accordingly. Flexibility is key and TCSJOHNHUXLEY is well positioned to fulfill this criteria. We’re a privately owned and operated company with vast experience, a proven track record and the ability to deliver. IAG: No doubt your job means being on the road. How is it being on the road versus stationed at a fixed property? JP: My last job involved travel, so I am used to it. My new role involves me being out and about, meeting customers and visiting casinos, so I am definitely not tied to my desk, which is a good thing. IAG: Obviously Macau’s gone through a major downturn in the last 18 months. What’s your view on this? JP: Long term I think Macau will benefit. The new properties that are opening have so much more to offer beyond gambling, for instance the Galaxy Macau property which has the world’s biggest wave pool and the lazy river, the Venetian with its shopping, canals and gondolas and Studio City with its rides. Also there is a phenomenal range of restaurants and cuisines so Macau residents and visitors are definitely spoilt for choice. From a gaming perspective, operators are having to increase their product offering to appeal to a wider market. This is a great opportunity for us as we have a wide range of products and services but we are also able to develop products to suit our customer’s unique requirements. IAG: Where do you see yourself in five to ten years? JP: I am driven to be the best at what I do. Working with TCSJOHNHUXLEY, I’ll have opportunities to develop my skills, take on interesting projects and work with people I can really learn from. Some of the most innovative thinkers in the industry work here and that’s a big reason why I want to build a career here. “Working with TCSJOHNHUXLEY, I’ll have opportunities to develop my skills, take on interesting projects and work with people I can really learn from. Some of the most innovative thinkers in the industry work here and that’s a big reason why I want to build a career here.” Industry profile