Inside Asian Gaming

IAG MAR 2020年3月 亞博匯 47 日本 it rightfully sits in the absolute top echelon of the world’s IR companies, with perhaps only one or two peers. While some, admittedly not many, criticized the incessant hoarding of cash over the years as an unsophisticated underutilization of resources, it is Galaxy which is having the last laugh, with a stupendous US$6 billion metaphorically burning a hole in its pocket – just the ticket given the kind of telephone numbers being thrown around for potential investments in a Japanese IR. While getting to the starting line a little later than MGM (and who didn’t?), Galaxy has thrown resources at their Japanese endeavors with gusto. The Galaxy Entertainment Japan office boasts a head count of over 20 employees, one of the largest in Japan. Galaxy has made no secret of the fact it has pursuedmultiple locations across Japan, rightfully justifying this as “being engaged in the process.” This allowed it to gracefully withdraw from Osaka when the decision wasmade to focus on Yokohama and other candidate locations, with Lui noting the company remains “fully committed to Japan, to assist the Government to achieve their tourism and economic goals and we believe GEG’s healthy balance sheet and track record in developing and operating the world’s most successful IR, combined with SBM’s 150-year track record in creating the world’s first IR destination at Monte Carlo, can make that a reality.” While some may put forth Galaxy’s Chinese connections as a negative given the sometimes frosty relations between the two countries, others will argue the reality that China is the largest source of inbound tourism to Japan, and Galaxy’s undeniably stellar track record in servicing this market should stand it in good stead. Given Japan’s fascination with all things French (there are more Michelin-starred restaurants in Tokyo than in Paris), Galaxy’s secret weapon may yet prove to be its partnership with Monte Carlo’s 150-year-old Société des bains de mer de Monaco (SBM), owner of the famed Monte Carlo Casino and the Hôtel de Paris. Just imagine the star power Prince Albert of Monaco would bring with a royal visit to Japan during the final push from the Galaxy and SBM bid! 現在於口袋裏有滾燙的60億美元巨額現金的就是它，可以 花費在日本IR的潛在投資上。 雖然銀河比美高梅遲進入賽道(誰不是呢?)，但該 公司在投放資源於日本時毫不手軟。銀娛日本(Galaxy Entertainment Japan)的辦公室有超過20位職員，是在日 本的潛在營運商裏其中一個規模最大的。 銀河並不隱藏其對多個日本地點皆有興趣這一事實， 並解釋這是「重在參與」，這容許該公司可以決定要專注 在橫濱及其他選址之後，體面地從大阪退出。而呂耀東亦 指出其公司依然「十分專注於日本，並協助政府達成他們 的旅遊及經濟目標，而我們相信銀河的穩健財務報表及發 展，並有營運世界上最成功的IR這往績，加上SBM在蒙地 卡羅建立世界首個IR目的地那長達150年的往績，可以達成這些 目標。」 雖然有些人會把銀河與中國的關係當成一個負面因素，畢竟 中日兩國的關係，曾有跌入冰點的情況，但其他人則指出，中國是 日本最大的旅客來源，而銀河在為這市場提供服務的傑出往績， 則不容置疑，並且對其非常有利。 有鑑於日本對一切有關法國的事務皆極為鍾愛(在東京的米 芝蓮餐廳比在巴黎的還要多)，銀河與蒙地卡羅那有150年歷史 的Société des bains de mer de Monaco (SBM)的夥伴關係亦可 是其秘密武器，後者擁有著名的Monte Carlo Casino和Hôtel de Paris，我們可以想像摩納哥親王阿爾貝二世的星級魅力，會為銀 河/SBM的競爭推最後一把。