purpose built facilities that were designed to operate as casinos within a casino as well as hotels within hotels to be able to better service the super rich.”


“Each of these casinos have separate entrances,


separate hotel check-in areas and a huge variety of deluxe and super deluxe suites and villas which include the absolute finest in facilities along with professional butler service. The same concept applies within the casinos with the ‘Paiza’ gaming area which is a casino within the casino designed for the super rich. The numbers of super wealthy customers visiting these properties is very interesting. We often describe a high-roller as a customer who will gamble $500,000 to a million dollars in the casino during a visit. It is interesting to note that there is an increasing number of super- high-rollers in Asia today with many coming to casinos with $5 million, $10 million, $15 million, $20 million or more to gamble with. Numbers like these were unheard of in recent years so the emergence of new hotels around the world to cater to these new super rich is not surprising at all.“


“Rest assured that this phenomenon has not


gone unnoticed by the major casino operators of the world. It is also interesting to note that although many of these super-rich players came from known affluent countries such as China, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, etc. we also saw many new incredibly rich players emerging from secondary markets such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, Myanmar as well as from the Middle East and India. The global demographics of high-rollers is changing rapidly.”


“The next challenge for many of the casinos


dealing with the new super rich players will be casino credit and collections. This has caused an increase in Junket Reps in Asia who basically know their customers on a local basis and therefore are much more willing to assume the risk for issuing credit as well collecting the funds when payment is due.”


“This process is further complicated today by the


fact that many of the new super rich live in countries where gambling debts are unenforceable which makes it even more difficult for the casinos to assume the risk of direct credit to many of these players. The transferring of money around the world today further complicates the process compared to past procedures. Never-the-less, there is definitely a new emerging market of both gaming and non-gaming super rich customers who


18 casino life magazine


have the money to spend and are willing to pay top dollar for the best of the best.”


Bob Ambrose concurred with Stephen adding: “The major components of casino and resort


hospitality to the super-rich are always available and include high stakes gambling, lavish parties, lodging, dining and entertainment. They are state of the art for this niche market in the US. It is a very specialized bond and a very unique segment of the hospitality industry for the wealthy gambler that includes spectacular accommodations and very personalized service.”


“I think that the added competition from gaming


destinations such as Macau and Singapore has encouraged more competition among casinos globally, to appeal and secure the limited, higher end, “super-rich” segment. Although comping to the super-rich may be viewed in a more public and a grander scale overseas, it is important to note that some of these same players are comped by casinos that are owned in part or in total by some western companies with interest in these jurisdictions.”


“The value of the super-high-end gambler or


“whale,” as they have been called has long been recognized in all the gaming jurisdictions in the US, however; they are a labor intensive segment and their game-play is volatile for the casino. The casino understands the risk and plays out the odds and overtime expects that it will receive revenue gains from this unique layer of gambler.”


“For the long term, with all being equal their


comping and the risk of the win/loss ratio is a slippery slope for any operation hosting the “high- end” players; which in one visit can win or lose millions. The casino, through their personal host and player development executives does all they can to keep the relationship exciting by offering all the comped amenities and anything else the super- rich may desire on their visits. Some high-end players enjoy bragging about what the casino has done for them but there are those that prefer a lower profile as well.”


“But in a negative global economy where the


separation of class by economics seems to grow wider; those publicly supporting a lavish lifestyle, no matter who is paying for it, are fair game for criticism by for those that cannot participate. It’s hard to live the “good-life” in these tough economic times and not be noticed.”


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