This article first appeared in the Sep/Oct 2013 issue of World Gaming magazine.
Rumors of a new major gaming trade show to debut in Macau this November have been swirling around since early this year. Rivaling the seven-year-established G2E Asia trade show, the Macao Gaming Show promises to be different – an Asian-centric show rather than one organized from the United States. WGM sat down with Mr Jay Chun who is Chairman of MGS organizer, the Macau Gaming Equipment Manufacturers Association, to learn a little more about the show.
Mr Jay Chun, Chairman of the Macau Gaming Equipment Manufacturers Association (MGEMA)
Andrew W Scott: Mr Chun, please tell us a little about the Macao Gaming Show (MGS). What is it and how did it get started?
Jay Chun: In 2012, Macau’s gaming revenue was MOP$304 billion. Besides investing in gaming equipment, the six casino operators put MOP$147 billion directly back into the Macau economy as operating expenses. Many non-gaming businesses benefited from this MOP$147 billion. The Macao Gaming Show is created to provide a platform for gaming and non-gaming businesses to showcase their products and services to the gaming industry. This is in line with the Macau SAR Government’s policy to use tourism and the entertainment industry as the driving force to diversify and grow the Macau economy. However, this is not a show just about Macau. We are inviting buyers primarily from the Asian gaming market. Vendors can come from all over the world. Macau is the meeting place for gaming buyers.
This takes us to our second objective: to propel Macau as the gaming expertise center of Asia. Macau leads the world in gaming revenue. We have a long history in gaming and a wealth of gaming expertise here. We are therefore organizing a Macao Gaming Summit to bring top gaming experts from the US and Asia under one roof to discuss the future of gaming. Besides regulators, we have invited academics and business leaders to participate in our Macao Gaming Summit. MGS is a show created in Macau, aimed at Asia, with eyes set on the world.
AWS: What is the Macau Gaming Equipment Manufacturers Association (MGEMA)? Please tell us a little of how the MGEMA was created.
JC: The Macau Gaming Equipment Manufacturers Association was initially founded by a group of local gaming equipment manufacturers. Yet we do not limit ourselves to Macau members. We have members who are overseas and mainland manufacturers. Our goal is simple – with our wealth of gaming expertise and depth of knowledge about Asian customer preferences, the MGEMA will be able to drive development initiatives that benefit both manufacturers and customers. The MGEMA objective is the same as the MGS objective – propelling Macau into a gaming expertise center through better development in gaming technology and gaming equipment.
We have Macau’s interest at heart. We hope to be able to lobby the government to give more support to gaming technology development and with it, people development. We will also be actively soliciting funding from gaming operators and equipment suppliers to support gaming education and gaming research and development projects.
AWS: How does MGS differ from other gaming shows?
JC: Other well-known gaming shows in Macau tend to focus only on gaming equipment suppliers and gaming operators. But there is only a handful of gaming equipment manufacturers. We, as MGEMA, know this well.
MGS broadens the scope to cover gaming and non-gaming businesses. In the gaming sector we cover gaming equipment supply but also cover gaming junket promoters, which contribute more than 50 percent of Macau’s revenue. MGS also covers pari-mutuel gaming like horse racing and greyhound racing, sports betting, lotteries and so on. We want our show to be broad enough to cover every business even remotely connected to Macau gaming. MGS is a platform for gaming and non-gaming suppliers to get a share of that MOP$147 billion annual pie.
Macau needs a show that represents its own businesses. We need a show that can project Macau’s image as a gaming procurement hub and gaming expertise center of Asia.
AWS: Why was November chosen as the time of year for the show?
JC: The perfect weather is one of the main reasons. Macau is a beautiful place to visit. We would like to present Macau in its most glorified light – the warm autumn sunshine. November is also when businesses finalize their budget – their last ditch efforts to include something that will help their business compete. And of course there is the Grand Prix. This is its 60th anniversary. There will be plenty to celebrate. We’d like to invite our exhibitors, our buyers, our speakers and our visitors to have a good time with us – mixing business with pleasure. Isn’t this what the gaming business is about?
AWS: The show is at the Venetian – is this the only facility in Macau big enough to hold the show?
JC: Currently, the Venetian is the largest and most prestigious venue to host any major show. They have great support facilities. We feel comfortable that our guests will be well taken care of within the Venetian premises.
AWS: What can people expect from MGS?
JC: Besides gaming equipment, MGS 2013 has five other interesting categories of exhibitors: Junket Promoters (VIP Clubs), Casino Facilities, Marketing Services, Entertainment, and Food and Beverage. They provide an interesting mix of products and services that will be very attractive for the gaming buyers at the show. We would especially like to highlight participation from junket promoters, who particularly cater to high rollers. Visitors will be able to seek business opportunities or partnerships with these VIP Club operators.
Let’s not forget the Macao Gaming Summit. Our 2013 theme is “Capitalizing on Asian Gaming Growth”. Many Asian countries have either started or are in the process of introducing gaming into their economies. There are huge opportunities for gaming operators and suppliers alike. Speakers from every corner of the Asia Pacific region will be invited to share their views on this great business boom.
MGS will definitely be fun too. Macau has something for everyone. We as host will organize various events to create networking, business matching or simply fun and enjoyable moments during our show.
AWS: What can you tell us about the entertainment that will be provided?
JC: Besides the Grand Prix, we are now working with our entertainment partners to create interesting events. We have a VIP Slot Lounge where our VIPs can test drive brand new machines. We are looking at running tournaments to increase excitement on the show floor. An after-show dinner, networking and parties are all definitely on our agenda.
AWS: You’re holding MGS at the same time as the 60th Macau Grand Prix. Was that a strategic decision and what connection does MGS have to the Grand Prix?
JC: Gaming is about excitement. The Grand Prix is about excitement. We are Siamese twins! We have a lucky draw for Grand Prix tickets and a VIP Grand Prix lounge. We hope to share this excitement with our visitors.
AWS: We’ve heard MGS will have its own TV station called MGS TV. What is that all about?
JC: Yes, we have our own MGS TV, a TV studio in the show. We will be interviewing our guests and exhibitors. We will have interesting footage about gaming, MGS, Macau and whatever tickles your fancy. It will be distributed through digital channels, reaching far and wide. We hope that all our major exhibitors can get some exposure through these efforts.
AWS: How are you progressing in regards to locking in exhibitors and confirming speakers?
JC: With the show only a few months away, we are well on our way. We have big name exhibitors. We have new comers with deep pockets. It is our exhibitors who make our show interesting. We are working closely with them to help create a great show.
It is buyers that make our show worthwhile, and of course we have been sending invitations to buyers throughout the Asian region and even further afield. We believe the subsidy the Macau SAR Government offers to qualified buyers is a sweetener to urge them to come. We know our efforts will not go to waste.
As for the Macao Gaming Summit, we are very pleased to have confirmed the International Masters of Gaming Laws to be our co-organizer. They are leading experts in gaming regulation. They will bring a wealth of knowledge to MGS. We have confirmed speakers from countries such as Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Italy and the US to speak about gaming business opportunities. We are creating other threads that will be of interest to our conference delegates.
We would like to thank our co-organizers and sponsors for their great contributions. There will be further sponsorship opportunities in the pipeline. We want our exhibitors and partners to leverage this opportunity and get the best exposure possible out of MGS.
AWS: This is the first-ever MGS. What are the long-term plans for MGS in the years to come?
JC: MGS is created with the future of Macau and the future of gaming in mind. We earnestly believe what we do will be for the benefit and best interests of all our stakeholders. As we progress, we will be getting more support from the Macau SAR Government, our community and the Asian gaming industry as a whole. MGS shall be, as we plan it, the hub of Asian gaming.
Can I do a little commercial here? I urge your readers in the gaming industry to book MGS 2013 now or you’ll miss the train!
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MACAO GAMING SHOW AT A GLANCE
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| WHERE | CotaiExpo at Venetian Macao | |
| WHEN | 14 to 16 November 2013 (in conjunction with 60th Macau Grand Prix) | |
| ORGANISER | Macau Gaming Equipment Manufacturers Association | |
| EXHIBITION CO-ORGANISERS |
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| CONFERENCE CO-ORGANISER |
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| FEATURES |
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| EXHIBITORS | Any company that sells any product or service to the gaming industry | |
| VISITORS | Casinos buyers from Macau, Asia and around the world | |
| CONFERENCE SPEAKERS | Lawyers, academics, operators, and gaming product and service providers focussing on regulatory and operational issues in the Asian gaming industry | |
| WEBSITE | www.MacaoGamingShow.com | |
