After the traditional inaugural ceremony with the authorities of the organization– the American Gaming Association and Reed Exhibitions-, government entities and the different sectors that represent the industry in Macau and in the whole region, the sixth edition of G2E Asia opened its doors gathering the main manufacturers of products worldwide together with the most important local manufacturers that every year assist to Macau. All of them have the same goal: showing their products to regional operators.
For 10 years, the Asian gaming industry has experimented an important and sustained growth, with Macau as the focal and most visible point that receives visitors with novelties every year. The so expected Cotai Strip is taking shape. While last year the big novelty was magnificent Galaxy built near Venetian, now us$-4.4 million Sands Cotai Central attracts the attention, and became the biggest casino resort worldwide, with its wide gaming and hostelling offer. Galaxy Entertainment Group already announced that it will start phase two of its Cotai Strip development, while Wynn Macao communicated its plans to raise an ambitious multi-millionaire development in the same area.
And while Macau keeps on growing, Singapore, Philippines and Vietnam also have their mega resorts operating and in full development. As expected, all of this is reflected at the present edition of G2E Asia, both in the conference program, where the market improvements in economic, legislative and regulatory terms are analyzed, and in the exhibition space, where the companies show their latest developments.
With more than 102 exhibiting companies and almost 30 that make their debut, the big names of the industry attracted the attention of the visitors during the first day of the show. The “big players” like IGT, WMS, Aristocrat and Bally exhibited their main products at a global level together with others specifically targeted for the Asian market. As every year, regional companies such as Aruze, Astro Corporation, Jumbo Technology, Bingotimes, Hydako, Matsui, JCM Global and Weike also made a strong bet with large booths and a wide gaming offer.
The group of companies with a remarkable presence at the exhibition, bringing quality and variety of options for visitors is comprised by Konami, Novomatic, Shuffle Master, Ainsworth, Gaming Partners International, Inspired Gaming Group, Future Logic, RGB, TransAct Technologies, Alfastreet, Interblock and TCS John Huxley.
The event achieves its goal of offering the widest portfolio of products and services for the Asian market, from slots, table games, igaming, software, new technologies and furnishing, security/surveillance, F&B, player tracking, signage, handling systems of coins/ bills, chips and cards.
After the conclusion of the first day, organizers expect a similar number of total visitors as last year, when around 5,700 people from the whole Asia and the rest of the world assisted to Macau. Exhibitors consulted about the first day of the 2012 edition, agreed in highlighting the quality of the visitors, with many “decision makers” walking around the halls.
In a press release, organizers of the event said that “after concluding the opening day, G2E Asia exceeded last year’s attendance on the same day by 12.7 percent and reports from exhibitors on the floor have been extremely positive. G2E Asia remains committed to providing the most respected annual gathering of industry professionals, as it has for the past six years. We are pleased that our exhibitors choose G2E Asia to display their latest products and services and are honored to represent the Asian gaming industry in Macau.”