Macau might be in the midst of a well-publicized slump, but it doesn’t appear to have impacted the wider gaming industry with this year’s Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia welcoming significantly more exhibitors and visitors than this time last year.
G2E Asia 2015 came to an end yesterday with co-organizers Reed Exhibitions claiming a significant rise in both figures. Although exact attendance numbers are yet to be released, the figure is expected to be well over 9,000 after 8,400 visited in 2014.
Figures for Days 1 and 2 were impressive with a 39 percent year-on-year increase on Day 1 and 18 percent on Day 2. There were also close to 180 exhibitors this year compared to 160 last year.
Much of this might in fact be a direct result of Macau’s downturn which has impact primarily upon VIP gaming and specifically table games. In response, there was a strong presence of electronic table games as well as new slot machines on show at G2E Asia 2015 with manufacturers and suppliers keen to provide alternatives to Macau’s six concessionaires.
Ironically, G2E Asia 2015 was held just a week before the opening of the first of Cotai’s new properties with Galaxy Phase II and sister property Broadway officially opening on 27 May. Galaxy was finally given the news yesterday that their new properties would be granted 150 new gaming tables – well below the 500 they had initially hoped for.
This year’s G2E Asia featured the very first Macau International Clubbing Show as well as the All Asia Dealers Championship which saw dealers from all games and all concessionaires compete for a range of prizes including Best Baccarat Dealer, Best Blackjack Dealer, Best Roulette Dealer.
