Inside Asian Gaming

December 2016 inside asian gaming 43 REGIONAL BRIEFS Chairman and CEO Jim Murren. “He is uniquely qualified to help MGM Resorts International access potential market opportunities domestically and particularly in Asia. Someone with his extensive experience will be a tremendous asset as we continue our global strategic planning.” Fischer most recently served as the Head of Consumer and Gaming research at CLSA, a boutique brokerage and investment group based in Hong Kong. During his 17 years as an equity analyst he specialized in Macau, Japan and other emerging gaming markets as well as the global luxury goods industry. He was also one of IAG ’s specialist panel members to select this year’s Asian Gaming Power 50 in September. Fischer will work out of the MGM Resorts offices in Hong Kong. Queensland to look into regional IR “In terms of data, we would point to Sands China, which noted premium mass GGR grew 16% in 3Q16, the first year- on-year growth since 3Q14. At the same time, the delta between the DICJ and operator-reported mass data widened this quarter, which could also be suggestive of an improving premium mass.” Aaron Fischer joins MGM Resorts MGM Resorts has announced the appointment of veteran gaming and retail analyst Aaron Fischer as the company’s new Senior Vice President of Corporate Development. In a press release sent out during November’s MGS Entertainment Show in Macau, MGM Resorts said that Fischer would assist the company and its affiliates in the development and strategic planning of integrated resorts in North America and Asia. “We are very excited to have Aaron on our team,” said Queensland government officials have begun preliminary discussions over the possible approval of a new integrated resort in one of the state’s regional hubs. Just three months after Tony Fung’s proposed Aquis development near Cairns was knocked on the head, a specially appointed group has started meeting with local governments, IR operators and property developers to determine how and where such a development might work. Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton and the Gold Coast are among the regions being considered. The research group will present their findings to the government next year which, if approved, would then see the proposal put out to tender. Despite the failure of Aquis to follow through, a regional IR is seen by Queensland’s government as a means of increasing international tourism to the Australian state. It also follows the approval of Brisbane’s Queen’s Wharf development, due for completion in 2022. “My Department of State Development has begun preliminary research to determine if there is genuine interest in the marketplace in another regional integrated resort development,” said State Development Minister Dr Anthony Lynham. “They have prepared a participant’s package which provides an overview of the opportunity and Government parameters. “The participants will include casino and hotel operators, property developers, construction firms and financiers who have expressed interest in the past or who are major players in sectors relevant to IRD delivery and operation. “As many as 12 different groups over the past 18 months have declared an interest.”