103
revenue – its location and attractiveness
as a travel destination will draw high
rollers, with or without junkets.
“This is a very creative industry and
solutions are always found,” AG Leisure
Managing Director Sean Monaghan
says.
“Singapore’s five hour flight radius
has the biggest gamblers in the world,”
according to Saint James Power Sta-
tion’s Foo.
“We’ve got a world class airport,
infrastructure, and security, so I think
they’ll come here.”
and Retail Research Andrew Fischer says. Singapore’s Casino Regulatory Au-
“We believe there is a lot of pent thority (CRA) requires, among other
Customer service
up demand for gaming and will not im- things, that junket guests register their
“I’m not a gambler, but I do play. I
pact consumer spending too drastically. visits with Singapore authorities in ad-
choose a casino by level of service,”
However, we do believe that spending vance, destroying the anonymity from
Taiwan Gaming Management Director
by locals will end up being significant- government scrutiny most premium
Hossein Asadi says.
ly above current expectations and have players crave.
Customer experience will be the key
long term implications for consumer That provision either betrays the
to growth of overall tourism in Singa-
spending and savings and investments.” government’s gross misunderstanding
pore. Philippine casino resorts already
The local market may be the most of high rollers or a concerted effort to
market their smiling service, in contrast
critical component for non-gaming banish junket operators from Singapore.
with nearby destinations (even though
spending, which could match gam- It also may reveal a mistaken belief
much of the staff there is Filipino).
ing revenue estimated at US$2.5-3.5 that Asian casinos can attract VIPs with-
Menu’s Devin Kimble warns that
billion. (See Off The Table, page 121) out help from junket operators.
low entry level pay in hospitality, due to
But IGamiX Managing Partner Ben “There’s a joke that an applicant for
imported labour and lack of a minimum
Lee warns against excessive optimism. marketing director comes in and says he
wage, mean few Singaporeans enter the
“Chinese consumers are value seekers. has a list of 2,000 independent premium
business.
Free is always better.” He adds, “You players,” veteran Asia Pacific gaming
“What the Singapore government
can spend a lot of money trying to ed- executive Felix Ling, currently a senior
doesn’t get is that is that if you don’t
ucate a market. Or you can give them partner at Platform Asia, says.
know how to wait tables or work the sa-
what they want.” “That’s the joke. Those independent
tay station, you can’t work in this indus-
try, even if you have an MBA.”
He hopes the IRs will provide im-
petus for higher wages and higher stan-
dards to attract better staff and deliver a
better product.
“At the IRs, things are going to be
expensive,” Kimble says, “so they’re go-
ing to have to be good.”
MICE
“The Sands Expo and Convention Cen-
tre will increase Singapore’s appeal as
a place for business to meet,” Marina
Bay Sands CEO Thomas Arasi says.
Expanding facilities for meetings, in-
centives, conventions and exhibitions
(MICE) was a key factor behind Singa-
pore’s decision to legalise casinos.
“The size of the Marina Sands con-
vention facilities puts Singapore in a
Premium players
premium players don’t exist. If there are whole new league,” Horwath’s Robert
The biggest gaming question is how
no junkets, it’s tough to make the num- Hecker observes.
much high rollers will contribute to
bers the IRs need,” Mike Bolsover, CEO But that new league may not offer
Singapore’s gaming revenue, and it’s a
at regional digital casino operator Silver many expansion opportunities. Singa-
make-or-break item for the IRs.
Heritage, says. pore is already Asia’s top convention
Tough government junket regula-
Others think that Singapore’s low destination and third most popular
tions won’t help.
tax rate – 12 percent for premium play globally.
March 2010
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