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.

06.11.2015 Views

德 晋 之 陈 荣 炼 Tak Chun’s Levo Chan 我 并 不 担 心 澳 门 中 介 人 的 前 景 ; 作 为 思 维 聪 敏 的 澳 门 市 民 , 也 不 会 质 疑 澳 门 的 下 一 个 光 辉 时 代 即 将 来 临 ; 作 为 喜 爱 吃 喝 玩 乐 的 尊 贵 旅 客 , 更 不 会 停 止 莅 临 世 界 性 旅 游 小 岛 的 步 伐 。 卓 : 您 对 澳 门 目 前 的 人 力 资 源 供 应 有 什 么 看 法 ? 您 认 为 未 来 我 们 需 要 更 多 输 入 海 外 劳 动 力 吗 ? 陈 : 澳 门 是 一 个 国 际 城 市 , 就 业 会 以 保 障 本 地 人 的 就 业 率 为 大 前 提 下 , 再 而 引 入 澳 门 缺 乏 拥 有 专 业 知 识 的 人 才 , 而 这 些 专 才 给 予 澳 门 人 更 多 机 会 接 触 国 际 高 层 管 理 的 文 化 。 至 于 未 来 我 们 对 于 人 力 资 源 的 安 排 , 除 了 要 视 乎 公 司 的 发 展 , 亦 需 要 配 合 澳 门 人 力 资 源 的 政 策 , 从 而 决 定 是 否 引 入 不 同 的 专 才 。 卓 : 我 们 听 说 了 很 多 关 于 台 湾 和 日 本 未 来 允 许 娱 乐 场 博 彩 的 可 能 性 。 您 认 为 有 可 能 发 生 吗 ? 如 果 有 , 您 认 为 这 对 于 更 加 industry entered into a period of capital chain tension. Between 2010 and 2013, China’s economy boomed and the industry developed as fast as rockets. Gaming revenue once exceeded Las Vegas sevenfold and Macau easily became the world’s number one gaming city. So as one of the industry leaders that has fought a hundred battles, I’m not worried about the prospect of Macau’s junket operation. As a smart thinking Macau citizen, I don’t question that the next glorious era of Macau is coming. Distinguished guests who love to have fun won’t stop the pace in which they visit this international tourism island. AWS: How do you feel about the current labor supply in Macau? Do you think we’ll need to rely more on foreign workers in the future? LC: Macau is an international city. Whilst ensuring a good employment rate of local people, Macau will introduce talent from overseas with professional knowledge that Macau lacks. These professionals give Macau people a greater opportunity to come into contact with international senior management culture. As for our future human resources arrangements, besides considering the development of the company, we also need to coordinate with Macau’s human resources policyt so as to determine whether we introduce different professionals or not. 广 大 的 亚 洲 博 彩 市 场 有 什 么 影 响 ? 陈 : 台 湾 和 日 本 未 来 开 设 娱 乐 场 博 彩 的 机 会 是 有 的 , 但 相 信 还 需 要 一 段 时 间 , 毕 竟 每 个 地 区 赌 权 的 开 放 均 需 经 过 社 会 的 讨 论 和 研 究 , 视 乎 当 地 的 政 策 。 假 若 这 些 地 区 发 展 娱 乐 场 博 彩 , 会 为 此 行 业 带 来 更 多 元 化 的 活 动 , 为 各 地 居 民 及 旅 客 增 添 更 多 娱 乐 项 目 。 而 我 们 作 为 博 彩 中 介 人 , 对 此 自 然 充 满 憧 憬 , 因 这 意 味 着 海 外 业 务 增 添 了 一 个 又 一 个 的 市 场 。 卓 : 最 后 , 大 家 很 可 能 想 要 了 解 一 下 品 牌 的 幕 后 人 。 您 有 哪 些 爱 好 , 闲 暇 时 喜 欢 做 什 么 ? 陈 : 闲 时 我 喜 欢 做 运 动 , 例 如 健 身 。 我 亦 会 参 加 德 晋 慈 善 会 举 办 的 活 动 。 我 希 望 能 够 出 一 分 力 , 回 馈 社 会 。 访 问 我 们 的 网 站 www.wgm8.com 查 阅 并 评 论 WGM 刊 登 的 所 有 文 章 。 AWS: We’ve heard a lot about the possibility of Taiwan and Japan allowing casino gaming in the future. Do you think it will ever happen? If so, when? What impact do you think this would have on the wider Asian gaming market? LC: There are opportunities for Taiwan and Japan to open up casino gaming in the future but I believe it will take time. After all, the opening of gaming in any area is subject to discussion and research by the society and depends on local policies. If these areas are to develop casino gaming it will bring more diversified activities to the industry and add more entertainment content for all residents and visitors. And we as a junket operator are full of expectations because this means that there will be more and more overseas business. AWS: Lastly, people would probably like to know a little more about the man behind the name. What hobbies do you have and what do you like to do in your spare time? LC: During my spare time I like doing sports such as going to the gym. I also participate in the activities of Tak Chun Charity Association. I want to be able to do my part and contribute to society. Visit our website www.wgm8.com to read and comment on every article ever published by WGM. 34

Tak Chun’s Levo Chan 德 晋 之 陈 荣 炼 WGM#38 2015 年 11 月 /12 月 | WGM#38 nov/dec 2015 0

德 晋 之 陈 荣 炼 Tak Chun’s Levo Chan<br />

我 并 不 担 心 澳 门 中 介 人 的 前 景 ; 作 为 思 维 聪 敏 的 澳 门 市 民 ,<br />

也 不 会 质 疑 澳 门 的 下 一 个 光 辉 时 代 即 将 来 临 ; 作 为 喜 爱 吃 喝<br />

玩 乐 的 尊 贵 旅 客 , 更 不 会 停 止 莅 临 世 界 性 旅 游 小 岛 的 步 伐 。<br />

卓 : 您 对 澳 门 目 前 的 人 力 资 源 供 应 有 什 么 看 法 ? 您 认 为 未 来<br />

我 们 需 要 更 多 输 入 海 外 劳 动 力 吗 ?<br />

陈 : 澳 门 是 一 个 国 际 城 市 , 就 业 会 以 保 障 本 地 人 的 就 业 率 为<br />

大 前 提 下 , 再 而 引 入 澳 门 缺 乏 拥 有 专 业 知 识 的 人 才 , 而 这 些<br />

专 才 给 予 澳 门 人 更 多 机 会 接 触 国 际 高 层 管 理 的 文 化 。<br />

至 于 未 来 我 们 对 于 人 力 资 源 的 安 排 , 除 了 要 视 乎 公 司 的<br />

发 展 , 亦 需 要 配 合 澳 门 人 力 资 源 的 政 策 , 从 而 决 定 是 否 引 入<br />

不 同 的 专 才 。<br />

卓 : 我 们 听 说 了 很 多 关 于 台 湾 和 日 本 未 来 允 许 娱 乐 场 博 彩 的<br />

可 能 性 。 您 认 为 有 可 能 发 生 吗 ? 如 果 有 , 您 认 为 这 对 于 更 加<br />

industry entered into a period of capital chain tension. Between 2010 and<br />

2013, China’s economy boomed and the industry developed as fast as<br />

rockets. Gaming revenue once exceeded Las Vegas sevenfold and Macau<br />

easily became the world’s number one gaming city. So as one of the<br />

industry leaders that has fought a hundred battles, I’m not worried about<br />

the prospect of Macau’s junket operation. As a smart thinking Macau<br />

citizen, I don’t question that the next glorious era of Macau is coming.<br />

Distinguished guests who love to have fun won’t stop the pace in which<br />

they visit this international tourism island.<br />

AWS: How do you feel about the current labor supply in Macau? Do you<br />

think we’ll need to rely more on foreign workers in the future?<br />

LC: Macau is an international city. Whilst ensuring a good employment rate<br />

of local people, Macau will introduce talent from overseas with professional<br />

knowledge that Macau lacks. These professionals give Macau people a greater<br />

opportunity to come into contact with international senior management culture.<br />

As for our future human resources arrangements, besides considering<br />

the development of the company, we also need to coordinate with Macau’s<br />

human resources policyt so as to determine whether we introduce different<br />

professionals or not.<br />

广 大 的 亚 洲 博 彩 市 场 有 什 么 影 响 ?<br />

陈 : 台 湾 和 日 本 未 来 开 设 娱 乐 场 博 彩 的 机 会 是 有 的 , 但 相 信<br />

还 需 要 一 段 时 间 , 毕 竟 每 个 地 区 赌 权 的 开 放 均 需 经 过 社 会 的<br />

讨 论 和 研 究 , 视 乎 当 地 的 政 策 。 假 若 这 些 地 区 发 展 娱 乐 场 博<br />

彩 , 会 为 此 行 业 带 来 更 多 元 化 的 活 动 , 为 各 地 居 民 及 旅 客 增<br />

添 更 多 娱 乐 项 目 。 而 我 们 作 为 博 彩 中 介 人 , 对 此 自 然 充 满 憧<br />

憬 , 因 这 意 味 着 海 外 业 务 增 添 了 一 个 又 一 个 的 市 场 。<br />

卓 : 最 后 , 大 家 很 可 能 想 要 了 解 一 下 品 牌 的 幕 后 人 。 您 有 哪<br />

些 爱 好 , 闲 暇 时 喜 欢 做 什 么 ?<br />

陈 : 闲 时 我 喜 欢 做 运 动 , 例 如 健 身 。 我 亦 会 参 加 德 晋 慈 善 会<br />

举 办 的 活 动 。 我 希 望 能 够 出 一 分 力 , 回 馈 社 会 。<br />

访 问 我 们 的 网 站 www.wgm8.com 查 阅 并 评 论 WGM 刊 登 的 所 有 文 章 。<br />

AWS: We’ve heard a lot about the possibility of Taiwan and Japan allowing<br />

casino gaming in the future. Do you think it will ever happen? If so, when?<br />

What impact do you think this would have on the wider Asian gaming market?<br />

LC: There are opportunities for Taiwan and Japan to open up casino<br />

gaming in the future but I believe it will take time. After all, the opening<br />

of gaming in any area is subject to discussion and research by the<br />

society and depends on local policies. If these areas are to develop casino<br />

gaming it will bring more diversified activities to the industry and add more<br />

entertainment content for all residents and visitors. And we as a junket operator<br />

are full of expectations because this means that there will be more and more<br />

overseas business.<br />

AWS: Lastly, people would probably like to know a little more about the<br />

man behind the name. What hobbies do you have and what do you like to<br />

do in your spare time?<br />

LC: During my spare time I like doing sports such as going to the<br />

gym. I also participate in the activities of Tak Chun Charity Association.<br />

I want to be able to do my part and contribute to society.<br />

Visit our website www.wgm8.com to read and comment on every article ever published by WGM.<br />

34

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!