Inside Asian Gaming

IAG AUG 2021年8月 亞博匯 61 數碼聚焦 since 1998. However, as of the latest renewal of Macau SLOT’s concession contract in June 2021, the conditions stipulate that the new three-year license which expires in 2024 is non-exclusive. This development opens the window for new operators to enter the sports betting market in Macau, upon successful grant of license. Interest in this may come from the existing IR operators in Macau as they look to broaden the scope of their activities and entertainment platforms in the SAR. The Las Vegas casino sportsbook market certainly provides an attractive model to emulate, especially as Macau itself looks to play host to more high- quality professional sports events from around the region in future. INTEGRATED ENTERTAINMENT PLATFORMS For IR operators to successfully transition to becoming integrated entertainment platforms, a further necessary component is the presence of in-market entertainment assets or partnerships. These primarily act as brand-building and customer engagement tools, which are especially crucial in markets such as China where all onshore marketing for gaming is prohibited. Accordingly, Melco International recently announced a partnership with Chinese developer Agile Group Holdings to establish an RMB4 billion (US$617 million) non-gaming entertainment complex in Zhongshan, China with mixed use including residential, entertainment and hospitality. The new complex will feature hotels, 由於可供IR營運商考慮收購的公司數量有限，一些營運商 或許可以尋求與體育博彩技術公司合作，在其場地內設置託管 的平台及投注站，譬如IGT PlaySports與拉斯維加斯名勝世界 的合作，或是WynnBET Live與Scientific Games的合作。 數字多元化的另一個策略是收購在B2B市場營運的網絡 遊戲公司。拉斯維加斯金沙集團於上個月宣佈成立一個新的網 絡博彩投資團隊，專門留意那些為相關部門研發網絡博彩技術 的公司。隨著服務交付顯著地轉移至線上渠道，這一領域有望 實現顯著增長。 澳門體育博彩市場 在亞洲，澳門的體育博彩業務一直由澳門彩票有限公司掌 控，該公司自1998年以來一直維持著表面上的壟斷地位，而且 擁有足球博彩及籃球博彩的唯一特許專營權。然而，2021年6 月，澳門彩票有限公司獲政府續約，將原先於今年6月到期的批 給期限延續3年至2024年，並且以「非專營」方式批給。這個改 變為其他營運商可能獲發牌照，從而進入澳門體育博彩市場打 開了缺口。 澳門現有的IR營運商可能會因此而感興趣，其無疑希望擴 大活動及娛樂平台在澳門的影響力。拉斯維加斯娛樂場的體育