From the...

From the Editor’s Desk (#36)

Written by Andrew W Scott

The calendar has only just rolled into July and already 2015 has been an incredibly eventful year for WGM and our parent company World Gaming Group (WGG). The past two months alone has seen our media portfolio expand with the acquisition of highly respected industry publication Inside Asian Gaming – just in time for G2E Asia – as well as becoming poker operations partner at Vietnam’s Ho Tram Resort Casino and hosting the country’s first ever international poker festival, APT Vietnam.

Our passports have certainly been given a workout! The WGM team was lucky enough to spend a few weeks at Ho Tram during APT Vietnam before returning to Macau just in time for G2E Asia. By the time you are reading this we may well have made our way to Las Vegas for the World Series of Poker!

Despite clocking up the frequent flyer miles, we made sure we were in our home base of Macau to witness a hugely important day for Macau’s gaming industry with the Grand Openings of both Galaxy Phase II and Broadway Macau on 27 May. Galaxy has become synonymous with excellence since it first opened its doors four years ago and Phase II continues that tradition with its impressive array of new food, retail and hotel offerings – headed by the luxurious Ritz-Carlton.

In this issue of WGM we take a look at these two new properties and the challenges they face given these uncertain times for Macau’s gaming industry.

We also sit down for a fascinating chat with CEO of the American Gaming Association, Mr Geoff Freeman, who gives his take on Macau in 2015 and what we can learn from the contrasting examples of Las Vegas and Atlantic City in the United States.

Sports fans are well catered for with an in-depth look at golf’s next great rivalry between young guns Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, while our football guru Leanne Lu examines the resurgence of Italian giants Juventus following their memorable run to the Champions League final.

Finally we grab a bite to eat at one of Macau’s elite Michelin star restaurants – Jade Dragon at City of Dreams!

As always, follow the dragon,
Andrew W Scott, CEO
Ben Blaschke, Managing Editor