CR85-p24-Asia&Oceania3:SJC-Casino Review 25/10/09 10:36 Page 1
internationalcasinoreview
New Zealand PM talks up his slots
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, left, has unintentionally become the focus of one
News
operator’s latest marketing campaign. Speaking in the US on The Late Show with David
Letterman, one of Key’s top ten reasons to visit New Zealand, was that the country has
the loosest slot machines in the Pacific Rim. The Christchurch Casino is now using the
comment in its advertising. Casino chief executive Brett Anderson said: “He’s up there on
the world stage encouraging people to come to New Zealand. If you look at the numbers
ASIA & OCEANIA who go to Las Vegas or any other gaming destination, if we could a percentage of those
to come down to New Zealand it would be great for everybody.”
Sky City
The gaming markets in New Zealand and Australia
have proved resilient for Sky City who has seen
double digit growth across its operations. Chief
shows
executive Nigel Morrison has, though, complained
of an uneven playing field with the group’s
Trans-Tasman competitors.
resilience
despite
unlevel
playing
field
skyplus up by nearly 20 per cent on what this organisation can on pokies had not had any dis- focus, the move was not are more tightly regulated
NEW ZEALAND last year’s figures. Adelaide accomplish in a significant cernible impact on takings, needed in casinos, he said, than gaming machines in
surged by ten per cent and downturn and satisfies me Morrison described the arguing for the approach pubs and clubs, Lotto and
SkyCity Entertainment Group Christchurch by eight. that we have sound struc- current regulatory environ- taken in some other jurisdic- online gaming operations.”
is aiming for another year of “If things go to plan, and the tures and systems in place, a ment as ‘certainly not helpful’. tions, where job creation and This ‘unique situation’ ham-
double digit earnings growth, economic and regulatory envi- committed management “Regulations governing economic activity were also pered growth prospects and
despite soft trading conditions ronment does not shift to dis- team who are encouraging casinos in New Zealand are identified for statutory pur- made it more difficult to attract
for slot GGR and fears that advantage us further, it is positive results from teams some of the most stringent poses. “Casinos are not the high-rollers and tourists to
smoking bans in the Australian certainly our objective to across the business, an evolv- in the world - more so than problem, yet we are more New Zealand casinos.
Northern Territory will hit deliver similar growth for ing suite of products and serv- in Australia, the US, Canada tightly regulated than gaming Morrison’s main worry for
Darwin casino earnings. shareholders again in 2010,” ices that is gaining us market and South Africa. That makes machines in pubs and clubs, 2010 lay with the potential
In the first annual report to Morrison said. “While the eco- share and traction, and a re- it difficult for us to compete Lotto and online gaming oper- smoking ban in the North-
cover a full year under new nomic outlook appears to have emerging confidence in just on a level playing field with ations - a unique situation,” he ern Territory.
chief executive Nigel Morri- stabilised and may even be what we are capable of.” our Trans-Tasman competi- said. “What seems to have “I continue to have con-
son, net profit after tax rose starting to improve, should The start of July saw player tors and peers in Sydney and been forgotten is that our busi- cerns too about the potential
13.9 per cent in the year to unemployment increase to information displays (PIDs) Melbourne. It also makes it ness is built on enjoyment impact of smoking bans in
June 30 to $115.9 m. Whilst any significant extent, this may required by law on each slot harder for us to attract inter- and fun, not personal and Darwin,” he said, mainly due
the group’s three operations curtail our opportunities for machine in New Zealand. national players and tourists financial stress. It actually to the fact that Northern Ter-
in New Zeland were flat rising organic growth, particularly in SkyCity invested over $20m to to New Zealand.” makes no sense for us, com- ritory gamblers had a greater
just one per cent from last our gaming machines busi- fit its machine base with the Morrison argued that while mercially or morally, to pursue propensity to smoke than cus-
year, its investment in Aus- ness,” said Morrison. PIDs. While the introduction the 2003 Gambling Act had anything other than a highly tomers in other Australian
tralia led the way with GGR “The 2009 result shows of player information displays minimising harm as its main responsible approach. Yet we and New Zealand casinos.
Packer increases holding in Crown
stickOrTwist would set Packer back by
AUSTRALIA around A$4.1bn. However,
his joint venture in Macau
James Packer has increased with Lawrence Ho’s Melco
his ownership in Crown to has been improved by
just over 40 per cent by better market performance
paying AU$203m for 22.5m One analyst said: “After a
More tables won’t mean
shares, fuelling speculation hard year, there has been a
more problem gamblers
in Australia that he is turnaround in the atmos-
preparing to make a full phere in the Macau casino
takeover offer. business as a result of the
crownwontslip in return for paying more tax and With gains in the share improved economic
AUSTRALIA creating 500 full-time jobs and value of the US-listed Melco outlook and a reported
will provide more revenue for Crown Entertainment, easing of visa restrictions
Allowing more casinos to be the state than for Crown. valuing Crown’s stake in its by the Chinese government
installed in Melbourne will not Gaming minister Tony Macau ventures at almost on visits by mainland citi-
increase the likelihood of Robinson hopes the report AU$1.2bn, local journalists zens to Macau.
problem gambling, according will counter any opposition in have been speculating that “The prospect of further
to the Victorian Government. the Upper House. selling more shares in his competition for the Asian
It has carried out an inde- “We did take the opportunity Macau operations could gambling dollar from the
pendent report analysing the to accommodate Opposition fund the domestic takeover. opening of two new
social and economic impact concerns that they wanted Fuelled by the stronger upmarket casino and hotel
of its recent deal with Crown more advice, that advice has than expected performance from a low of $US2.27 in per cent before its US projects in Singapore next
Casino and found it will not now been provided in black and of Steve Wynn’s Macau February this year, to listing in December 2006, year would also be a factor
significantly increase the rate white,” he said. “It’s quite clear, casino listing on the Hong $US7.18 this month. to 38 per cent earlier this in any assessment by
of problem gambling. it’s quite conclusive, they Kong stock exchange, Packer holds a 33.5 per year and now to 33.5 per Crown of the length of its
The deal will see Crown should do the right thing now shares in Melco Crown cent stake in Melco Crown, cent. A full takeover for the holding in the Macau
operate an extra 150 table games and support the legislation.” Entertainment have surged dropping from an initial 50 remaining Crown shares venture.”
24 November 2009 • asia&oceanianews
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