Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING APRIL 2018 10 JAMES PACKER HAS quit the Crown Resorts board due to mental health issues. In a filing to the Australian Securities Exchange, Crown announced that the company’s number one shareholder was stepping down for “personal reasons” just eight months after rejoining the board following a two- year absence. Packer had previously stepped down to pursue overseas interests in 2015. “We have appreciated James’ contribution to the board and respect his decision to step down from his role as a director at this time,” said Crown Resorts Executive Chairman John Alexander in a short statement. Packer’s private investment firm, Consolidated Press Holdings, later released its own statement in which it revealed that “Mr Packer is suffering from mental health issues. At this time he intends to step back from all commitments.” Currently residing overseas, Packer announced in 2017 his plan to return home to Australia in the next two years following a tumultuous 18 months both personally and professionally, including the sudden end of his engagement to superstar singer Mariah Carey in October 2016. In December, Packer purchased two floors of Crown’s hotel and casino complex at Barangaroo – due for completion in 2021 – for AU$70 million. JAMES PACKER QUITS CROWN RESORTS BOARD Scientific Games deploys “Jin Ji Bao Xi” on Macau casino floors Scientific Games Corporation has announced the first-ever installation of its new “Jin Ji Bao Xi” Asian linked progressive in Macau. “Jin Ji Bao Xi”, which follows on from the company’s hugely successful “Duō Fu Duō Cai” family link, is now live in both Macau and Cambodia, with the Philippines to follow in April. Scientific Games Vice President and Managing Director of Asia, Ken Jolly, told IAG that “Jin Ji Bao Xi” was developed initially for the Macau market, although the company expects it to follow the lead of “Duō Fu Duō Cai” and spread globally. “It is an Asian-facing game developed for Asia and specifically for Macau,” Jolly said. “Jin Ji Bao Xi” is the latest multi- denominational progressive linked jackpot from Scientific Games’ new “Echo Fortunes” base game on the Dualos cabinet, which debuted at MGS Entertainment Show in November. The name “Jin Ji Bao Xi” means good luck and good news in Chinese. The logo itself – comprising a bat and a peach – is from the Chinese traditional symbol representing good fortune and longevity, said to bring prosperity and good news to players. “Jin Ji Bao Xi” also highlights a major shift in the global gaming industry in recent years, given that it was only a decade ago that games found on Macau’s casino floors were imported directly from the US or Australia. It’s good to see the tables starting to turn with more games being developed in Asia, for the Asian market before making their mark on the rest of the world.