Inside Asian Gaming

inside asian gaming January 2017 14 Phil Stormonth: Industry profile Ben Blaschke: Hi Phil, can you tell us a bit about your background? Where did you grow up and what are your main memories from your childhood? Philip Stormonth: Sure, I was born in London and grew up in Bedford, England. I spent a few years in Texas when my family moved there when I was nine. I later returned to the UK and studied Law at University. I never wanted to be a lawyer, which confused my lecturers, but I wanted to know how lawyers think and act. Those skills, I think, translate to the business world. BB: Did you have any particular idea as a youngster what you wanted to do for a living?  PS: There were a good few years where I planned to be a fighter pilot. I was in the Air Training Corps in the UK and was convinced I would become a Tornado pilot. That was until I saluted the wrong person at an RAF camp and during my dressing down by the senior staff he let it slip that I was too tall to be a fighter pilot. So I dropped that idea. I then wanted to be a professional golfer – could still happen, you never know! Later I became interested in psychology and law at high school, the latter of which I chose to study at University. BB: Had you spent much time in Macau before working in gaming? PS: About two years where I worked for an SME company helping set up businesses in China, Hong Kong and Macau. I got to use my legal background and it was great fun. I learned a lot about company structure and the local law in those regions. Hong Kong law is largely based on the England and Wales law system so it was easy there, but Macau and China had very different rules and regulations. Working with Macau companies gave me more insight into the gaming world as I would help set up gaming based vendor companies. BB: So how did you then move directly into the gaming industry? PS: I joined the Macau Australian Football Club when I arrived in Macau. I became increasingly intrigued by the gaming industry. The more I heard and learned the more interested I was. The AFL club is made up of some of the leading gaming vendors and operators and after some chat IAG Managing Editor Ben Blaschke catches up with IGT’s System Sales Manager for Asia, Phil Stormonth , to discuss his journey into Macau’s gaming industry. New horizons