Inside Asian Gaming

MARCH 2018 INSIDE ASIAN GAMING 11 Australia’s Federal Court has dismissed a case brought against Crown Resorts and slot machine manufacturer Aristocrat Technologies Ltd by a former gambling addict which claimed that the design of the latter’s “Dolphin Treasure” machine was misleading. In what was seen as a landmark case for the industry, Judge Debbie Mortimer ruled that there was no evidence either Crown or Aristocrat had breached consumer law, that no identified individual had been victimized or exploited by them and that there was no identified special disadvantage on the part of the applicant. “I did not find anything in the conduct of Crown or Aristocrat that could be found as unconscionable,” Judge Mortimer said. “There are no allegations that either respondent has failed to comply with its obligations under the regulatory framework. To the contrary, the evidence positively demonstrates compliance.” The lawsuit was brought last year by Shonica Guy, a 41-year-old former Australian lawsuit against Crown and Aristocrat dismissed Vietnam IR to boost Suncity’s bid for seventh Macau casino license The launch of Macau junket operator Suncity’s new Vietnam integrated resort, Hoiana, in 2019 will likely put them in a strong position to bid for Macau’s seventh casino license should the government opt to award one, according to Macau-based analyst Grant Govertsen. In a note outlining the progress and potential impact of Hoaina following a recent visit to the site, Govertsen suggested that Suncity’s huge Macau market share, coupled with the quality of its Vietnam project, could have a genuine impact on Macau’s VIP volume. More importantly though, it could also put Suncity in the running to become the city’s seventh concessionaire once the license renewal process kicks into gear from 2020. “In regards to the license rebid process in Macau, Hoiana will put them in a better position to win a license (in the event a seventh license is issued) not only because Suncity will be a bonafide IR operator with local roots, but because licensing Suncity would also repatriate VIP dollars to Macau where it provides a benefit to the local community,” Govertsen said. In this regard, the fact that Suncity could pull some business away from Macau also works in its favor. “While it is virtually impossible to isolate the impact to Macau due to the growth in VIP in other regional markets, we think that Suncity’s transition to becoming a casino principal brings with it risks to Macau and brings with it a positive new angle for Suncity as it relates to the potential for obtaining a Macau license,” Govertsen said. gambling addict who argued that the uneven spread of the symbols on the Aristocrat game “Dolphin Treasure” and the manner in which statistical information was displayed was misleading and encouraged addictive behavior.