Inside Asian Gaming

IAG NOV 2019年11月 亞博匯 96 2019 POWER 50 CLAIMS TO FAME • Heads only Japanese company to operate its own integrated resort • Took control of Philippine listed company for an anticipated IR listing • Considering renaming Okada Manila, the eponymous brainchild of Universal’s founder Fujimoto deposed in 2017 名成事跡 • 執掌唯一一家經營綜合度假村的日本企業 • 操控於菲律賓上市的企業，為預期的度假村項目上市作準備 • 考慮將岡田馬尼拉重新命名，該項目以環球娛樂創辦人岡田和生命 名，但他於2017年已被逐出公司 38 REPRESENTATIVE DIRECTOR AND PRESIDENT Universal Entertainment 代表董事及總裁 環球娛樂 JUN FUJIMOTO 富士本淳 AS Jun Fujimoto and his team ponder changing the name of Okada Manila – currently headlining Universal Entertainment founder Kazuo Okada, who Fujimoto and allies including Okada family members ousted in 2017 – they might consider rechristening the projected US$2.8 billion IR as Deliberate. Since its soft opening in December 2016, through a US$2.4 billion cash infusion from Wynn Resorts last year to settle the 2012 forced redemption of its shares, the IR’s first phase remains incomplete. Despite acquiring Asiabest Group International in February for a Philippine Stock Exchange listing, IR local vehicle Tiger Resort Asia still isn’t trading. Nevertheless, Okada Manila keeps gaining gaming traction. For the first eight months of this year, gross gaming revenue reached Php24.8 billion (US$479 million), up 49% from a year ago. Across nearly 400 tables and 2,600 machines, VIP led the way up 56%, with mass table revenue growing 48% and machine revenue ahead 38% as average daily visitation rose from 12,250 to 15,800. The key Universal long game for Okada Manila is a Japan IR license. As its casino management skill grows, adding to pachinko and pachislot machine manufacturing experience, Universal becomes a more attractive piece for a Japan consortium. Proving it can finish an IR couldn’t hurt either. 當 富士本淳及其團隊考慮重新命名岡田馬尼拉時——該項目現時以環球娛樂創 辦人岡田和生命名，但富士本淳、其同盟包括岡田家人於2017年將岡田逐出公 司——他們可以考慮將這拆資28億美元的綜合度假村項目命名為「参酌」。 該項目自2016年試業以來，包括經歷去年永利度假村注資24億美元以解 決其2012年強制贖回股權的問題，項目第一期發展至今仍未完工。雖然今年2月 收購了Asiabest Group International公司以便於菲律賓證交所上市，但岡田馬 尼拉營運商Tiger Resort Asia至今仍未上市。 不過，岡田馬尼拉的博彩表現持續增長勢頭。今年首八個月，博彩總收入 達248億披索（約4.79億美元），按年增長49%。度假村設有近400張賭桌及2,600 台博彩機，貴賓廳收益增長56%，中場收益增長48%，博彩機收益則增長38%， 而每日訪客人數由12,250人次增長至15,800人次。 在岡田馬尼拉的基礎上，環球娛樂的長遠規劃是獲取日本綜合娛樂度假村 （IR）牌照。當其賭場管理技能不斷提高，加上其彈球機和彈珠角子機生產領域 的經驗，環球娛樂越來越具備吸引力成為日本IR聯營體的一份子。當然，若能證 明其可完成度假村項目發展，更是百利而無一害。 POWER SCORE 權能指數 : 747 POSITION LAST YEAR 去年排名 : 38