WGM#38 NOV/DEC 2015
The Macau gaming industry is synonymous with junkets. First started by none other than Stanley Ho in the 1960s, these junkets and the VIP gamblers they provide have played a vital role in Macau’s rise over the past decade. However, the recent downturn has changed the landscape in this unique part of the world with the junket business suffering more than any other and a number of VIP rooms being forced to close in Macau over the past 12 months. So what does the future hold? In this issue of WGM, we speak exclusively to the Chairman of one of Macau’s biggest junket operators Tak Chun Group, Mr Levo Chan, about the current gaming climate, his expectations for the coming years and why Tak Chun has expanded while other junkets have slowed right down. Poker fans will enjoy our lengthy and intriguing interview with World Series of Poker (WSOP) Tournament Director Jack Effel who explains just how much goes into organizing the world’s biggest tournament series each and every year as well as regaling us with some of his favorite stories from the past. We tackle the smoking debate as Macau’s legislators decide whether to allow smoking in specially designated smoking lounges or ban the habit altogether, while our responsible gambling series sees us visit one of Macau’s main problem gambling treatment centres. In sport, we look at Manchester United’s big gamble on teen star Anthony Martial as well as examining which of the world’s major sports would benefit most from cracking the lucrative Chinese market. And our resident party animal tells us all about one of Macau’s newest trendy nightspots – Ritz-Carlton Bar & Lounge.
The Macau gaming industry is synonymous with junkets. First started by none other than Stanley Ho in the 1960s, these junkets and the VIP gamblers they provide have played a vital role in Macau’s rise over the past decade.
However, the recent downturn has changed the landscape in this unique part of the world with the junket business suffering more than any other and a number of VIP rooms being forced to close in Macau over the past 12 months. So what does the future hold? In this issue of WGM, we speak exclusively to the Chairman of one of Macau’s biggest junket operators Tak Chun Group, Mr Levo Chan, about the current gaming climate, his expectations for the coming years and why Tak Chun has expanded while other junkets have slowed right down.
Poker fans will enjoy our lengthy and intriguing interview with World Series of Poker (WSOP) Tournament Director Jack Effel who explains just how much goes into organizing the world’s biggest tournament series each and every year as well as regaling us with some of his favorite stories from the past.
We tackle the smoking debate as Macau’s legislators decide whether to allow smoking in specially designated smoking lounges or ban the habit altogether, while our responsible gambling series sees us visit one of Macau’s main problem gambling treatment centres.
In sport, we look at Manchester United’s big gamble on teen star Anthony Martial as well as examining which of the world’s major sports would benefit most from cracking the lucrative Chinese market.
And our resident party animal tells us all about one of Macau’s newest trendy nightspots – Ritz-Carlton Bar & Lounge.
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Tak Chun’s Levo Chan 德 晋 之 陈 荣 炼<br />
its vigorous development and the future demand so I started the first<br />
VIP Club in StarWorld in 2007 with a few friends working in the gaming<br />
industry. That same club is still there – the StarWorld Tak Chun VIP Club.<br />
Because the time was right and the policy of “service first, steady<br />
progress” that we adhered to was effective, the Group continued to expand<br />
its business network and attract more and more customers, laying a solid<br />
foundation for creating a prominent entertainment and gaming kingdom.<br />
Tak Chun Group is also very concerned about the development<br />
of Macau society and the needs of different sectors. Tak Chun Charity<br />
Association was established on 11 June 2012. It is a non-profit, independent<br />
charity organization. Its purpose is to "care for the community, promote<br />
charity activities and participate in social services". It tries to understand<br />
the real needs of the disadvantaged community and make contributions<br />
to society. In recent years, Tak Chun Charity Association has promoted<br />
education more actively. It donated to and established 10 primary schools<br />
on the mainland in <strong>2015</strong>, making contributions to fostering talent. Our<br />
development policy over the next 12 months is mainly to continue to<br />
promote education, organize more free education and bring more<br />
resources to poor families.<br />
AWS: In what ways is Tak Chun different from other junket operators?<br />
LC: In the past eight years, Tak Chun has developed from a single<br />
VIP Club to a company that does business in every large-scale resort<br />
and five-star hotel in Macau. At present we have 11 VIP Clubs with<br />
more than 160 tables. We now have a certain proportion of the Macau<br />
gaming market and our business has spread to lots of places overseas<br />
too. Since our inception our Group has strived to bring better service<br />
for our guests.<br />
Take the current situation of Macau's gaming industry as an example.<br />
Macau’s gaming industry has now declined compared with a few years<br />
ago. Faced with this dilemma, many VIP Clubs chose to reduce business<br />
to remain in operation. However, Tak Chun hasn’t reduced its business,<br />
instead we have set up new VIP Clubs in Altira and Galaxy II – constantly<br />
expanding our offering.<br />
We hope not only to maintain the quality of our service to the<br />
guests but actually to improve the quality of service to enhance our<br />
attractiveness and competitiveness. This is why Tak Chun has recently<br />
updated its brand image.<br />
AWS: Tak Chun has a reputation for being more financially stable and more<br />
conservative than other junkets. Do you consider this to be accurate? Why?<br />
LC: Tak Chun Group attaches great importance to its management. It has<br />
a stable management structure and a wealth of experience in the gaming<br />
entertainment industry. The Group has high quality staff, most of whom<br />
have high qualifications and rich industry experience. We also refer to<br />
international best practices in order to achieve standardized systems<br />
in terms of account management, auditing, anti-money laundering,<br />
contract approval and so on.<br />
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