Inside Asian Gaming

IAG APR 2020年4月 亞博匯 30 COVER STORY Aristocrat’s General Manager – Asia-Pacific, Lloyd Robson, says there is a lesson to be learned on the importance of industry participants working together. “We have analyzed impacts through a number of lenses including employees, customers, supply chain and external stakeholders such as the government and our community partners,” he tells IAG . “Given a number of our materials are sourced from the APAC region, a challenge has been understanding supply impacts. Customer wise there has been some impact given the fact so many casinos are closed. “We are doing everything we can to support the community such as providing masks and hygiene products in Macau and food supplies in the Philippines. This is a challenge for the entire industry and we need to work together so that we can return bigger and better to help play our role in supporting jobs and growth in this dynamic region.” SHIFTING SANDS As it stands, the lingering uncertainty over what lies ahead promises to cause more headaches for some than others. “If we're sitting here in June and the numbers look like they look now then we’re in more serious problems,” says Umansky of the plight of Macau’s operators. “I don’t think we’re going to be in that position – even in our bear case scenario we’re not getting to that point – so I think that things will gradually improve but from the operators’ perspectives, they are in different financial positions. You’ve got some operators that have more debt, more interest payments they have to make, they are larger companies with larger fixed costs and the amount of business coming in right now is very small, so those larger companies with larger outflows and more debt that needs to be serviced are going to be more impacted. “Consider Wynn, Studio City (Melco Resorts & Entertainment), MGM to some extent, these operators have more debt so if this thing drags into the second half of the year and cash is being depleted I’m sure the CFOs are going to get nervous, as they should. “Now I don’t think that any of these companies are going to be in financial distress at this stage – I think they can weather the storm – but dividends for some An empty Venetian Macao during February ’ s forced 15-day closure. 2月賭場關閉期間空空蕩蕩的澳門威尼斯人。