Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING OCTOBER 2018 14 SOUTHEAST ASIAN CASINO operator Donaco International Ltd says it is looking to reduce the contribution of VIP at its flagship Cambodian resort Star Vegas and focus instead on growing the mass market and online sectors. Speaking with Inside Asian Gaming at the inaugural Cambodia International Gaming Conference, Donaco Executive Director Ben Reichel said that although the company has recently started re-introducing junkets at Star Vegas in recent months after splitting with its former partner, of greater importance was building up the mass market by expanding its sources of visitation. “We want to build up visitation from other countries including China, Malaysia and Indonesia and we also want to focus on the online industry which is a burgeoning industry, particularly in Poipet,” Reichel said. “Historically VIP has represented about 40% of our revenue, which is all junket- based business. Our aim is to get that down to 25% by growing the mass market, by growing the slot machine base in particular and also by the online side.” Reflecting the rapid explosion of online EXPANDING STAR VEGAS MASS, ONLINE PLATFORMS THE FOCUS FOR DONACO Genting Malaysia says it is looking at its options regarding a US$426 million investment after the US Department of Interior (DOI) ruled that Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe could not develop a planned integrated resort in Massachusetts. According to the DOI, the Tribe does not satisfy the necessary conditions under Genting Malaysia looking into recovery of US$426 million tribal casino investment the Indian Reorganisation Act to allow it to have the land in question in trust for an IR development. Genting Malaysia had previously purchased promissory notes to the value of US$426.3 million issued by the Tribe. In an announcement, the company said it is “currently deliberating the appropriate course of action by working closely with the Tribe to review all options available for the group’s investment in the promissory notes as well as its recoverability. “This includes a legislation being introduced in the US Congress which, if passed, will entail the DOI to reaffirm the land in trust for the benefit of the Tribe.” gaming operations in Cambodia’s main casino centers, including Poipet, Bavet and Sihanoukville, Donaco earlier this month also announced the launch of its new online gaming platform – described by Reichel as a “significant growth engine” for the company. “We’re not making forecasts on how much that will make but it is a very big opportunity,” he said. “It is a crowded space, there are a lot of brands out there, but one of the benefits is that Star Vegas is a very well-known brand so hopefully that will have some cut-through.”