It seems like just yesterday we were all at G2E in Las Vegas, shaking hands and schmoozing. Heck, it seems like just yesterday that you could find a stack of coin buckets at the end of every bank of slot machines on the floor. But, no, that was a solid seven months ago and a solid seven years ago, respectively. Am I just getting old? Is the earth spinning a little faster on its axis with each revolution around the sun? I’d guess the former over the latter, but either way, I’d like a moment to hit pause and take stock of what’s going on in the gaming industry. And what’s going on in the gaming industry is Asia—and how.
First off, I’d like to say hello to all of you readers who picked up this issue of Casino Enterprise Management at G2E Asia in Macau. Despite our long-standing presence at G2E Las Vegas, this is the first year CEM has made the 14-hour flight to China for G2E Asia. I have to admit, we’re a bit behind the times. Granted, we’re only a year behind the times, as G2E Asia made its debut in 2007, but despite the breakneck pace of the last 12 months, a whole lot went on.
For starters, the world’s largest casino opened its doors—The Venetian Macau. While it was at it, Macau outpaced the Strip in gaming revenue, too. And win per table. And handle per machine. If this is still an emerging market, hold on to your hats, because I can’t even imagine what’ll come next. Soon it’ll probably feel like just yesterday that we could all say “the Strip” without “Las Vegas” in front of it—that is, without worrying about everyone taking it as a reference to Cotai.
But wait a minute! Wasn’t it just yesterday that we were all marveling at the behemoth that is The Venetian Las Vegas? Whether Macau is the new Vegas or Vegas the old Macau, the two jurisdictions certainly have more in common than gondolas, faux canals and Dragon Bacc™ (see page 71). Flip to page 26 for an insightful elaboration from Gambling and the Law®’s Prof. I. Nelson Rose. And don’t forget for a second that it isn’t just Macau that has Asia buzzing—I won’t even try to top Noah Acres’ tale from Manila on page 30 but will offer two phrases to sum it up: no pants and customer satisfaction.
As for all of us back state-side, it’s time we concentrate on not getting left behind. With the housing bust, the everlasting primaries and $4 per gallon gas gripping the nation, it’s easy to say we’ll just wait and see. But with gaming changing in the blink of an eye, waiting and seeing does just about as much good as introducing your new product line the Friday after G2E. Exciting innovations are poised to catapult gaming in the United States back from the brink of been-there/done-that, and operators need to be proactive in the process to make the most of it.
That’s why this month we’ve featured the Gaming Standards Association (GSA), and five of its operator members as our cover story (see page 38). As GSA continues to make progress on its S2S (System-to-System) standards, it is relying on help from proactive operators to ensure its technical committees resolve the real-life issues that can—and do—make your day drag on like there’s no tomorrow.
OK. Are you ready? PLAY.
Peter E. Mead
Publisher,
Casino Enterprise Management
Comments
Post new comment