MACAU BUSINESS
Luis Pereira,
Managing Director of ASEAN Gaming Summit and Asia Gaming Brief
SINO-THAI TRAIN Thomas Bird, UK author of the book Harmony Express, about taking trains across China, noted that Thai gaming legalisation would be highly attractive to mainland punters and give Macau a run for its money.
Now based in Thailand chronicling how China’s trains might impact Southeast Asia tourism and society, Bird, who was based in the mainland for 15 years, says, “Thailand is clever in doing market segmentation for backpackers, retirees, digital nomads, etc., and looking around Asia for customers.”
“Macau can’t grow out anywhere, it is too small, and filled up. Billing it with a leisure package to Zhuhai is nonsense because there is nothing there in terms of entertainment or major sites. So Thailand would be able to compete with them, particularly for mainland Chinese travellers… Macau and China aren’t going anywhere, but Thailand will need to strike a balance to remain globally attractive. It does not want over-tourism like Bali or Paris, or to turn into some mafia or triad gambling hell.” Bird said, “Look at how marijuana is legal here and everywhere now. I hope that does not happen with gambling and it sticks to certain areas, not on every corner… The Thais are already good at focusing tourism experiences with places like Pattaya for the naughty, Chiang
Mai for more cultured experiences in the north, and Koh Phangan for backpackers, with many places for digital nomads, etc.”
He waxes philosophically, “But are gamblers really going to enhance the country’s reputation for spirituality, culture, solace, and nature? They aren’t coming to a nature preserve to see elephants in the wild. They’d rather see them on stage in a casino show.”
He adds, “Recently, I was at a Muay Thai boxing fight in a small venue in Chiang Mai, and they were making small bets, and that’s fun and part of Thai culture. Casinos cannot capture authentic culture like that….”
Bird jokes, “Of course, if they want to make it like Las Vegas out of nothing from the desert, why not build casinos in the Isaan region [northeastern Thailand] along major train stops coming into Thailand from China?”
“These trains are going to be bringing Chinese in.” Especially if there is gambling going on, and Chinese coming are beyond the big eyes of Beijing cracking down on possible capital flight, as they have done heavily in Macau since 2017 when satellite junket operators shifted orbit to Cambodia, the Philippines, Laos, and even inside open conflict states in Myanmar. Will Chinese gamblers wanting to dodge Beijing come to Thailand? Bird says, “You can bet on it.”
If they don’t require local
partnerships, Sands would probably top the list simply on the basis of their
Singapore MBS [Marina Bay Sands] brand recognition. Melco would come in second for their commitment to entertainment, such as the popular House of Dancing Water
Ben Lee, managing partner of IgamiX
NOVEMBER 2024 31
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