The largest marketplace and the must-attend event in the gaming entertainment industry in Asia has opened its 13th edition Tuesday in Macau, expecting 18,000 visitors from all around the globe.
For years, G2E Asia has hosted new event offerings, and this year is no exception. Delivering the most extensive exhibition in the region, this year features a bi-level expo hall and a series of fresh conference tracks.
“Together with our growing cache of complimentary digital tools, we never waver in our commitment to continually deliver value-added services, maximizing ROI and enhancing event experience for all,” said Josephine Lee, chief operating officer of Reed Exhibitions Greater China.
New American Gaming Association CEO Bill Miller opened the event for the first time, acknowledging the core values being shared by both the West and Asia—high priority in responsible gaming, commitment to stopping illegal gambling, and recognized duty to be a strong economic partner.
The highly anticipated keynote speech by SJM Holding’s Daisy Ho boasted the roadmap for China’s Greater Bay Area initiative, which would mean greater growth and prosperity for Macau. This promises significant near term and long term opportunities for Macau as an internationally competitive innovation area. “It’s time to seize them and move ahead,” Ho said.
Union Gaming analyst Grant Govertsen gave us a recap on the movements happening around the VIP sector in Asia. Numbers-wise, the mass market revenue has overtaken the VIP market revenue for the first time in Q1 of 2019. Macau has seen its VIPs fleeing to other gaming jurisdictions, which benefits nearby gaming economies in Asia such as the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia.
G2E Asia experts-led Day 1 conference has closed with discussions focusing on Japan gaming. Though, it is still unknown when Japan will determine the three casino licensees, operators eyeing this market has started preparing to immerse in it. Mitsuaki Kiriyama, vice president of Bloomberry Resorts Japan, shared some initiatives that their company has started doing in the country. Aside from marketing and working on building the right network and establishing relationships in Japan, they have also started to reach out directly to the market itself. These efforts includes educating the Japanese market about integrated resorts, and the experience and economic benefits it brings.
