The year ahead - Mike Santangelo

Wednesday 4th of January 2017

Predictions for the 2017 Asian Gaming market could be precarious, but I speculate we will begin to see disruptive technologies migrate to the mainstream. The market leaders have been talking long enough about what future millennials desire, however, 2017 should see commitment to long term strategies and investment in eSports, mobile-based connectivity, more robust online platforms and potentially skill-based gaming. MGM and several smaller gaming companies have already began trialing these technologies but I forecast this trend will quickly migrate to the other Asian market leaders in 2017.

While the Asian gaming market is unpredictable, one thing we can all be 100 percent sure of is that there is never a lack of excitement and 2017 will be no exception.

Additionally, I expect to see Japan and Vietnam announce their entry to the casino gaming foray in 2017, with major Macau and Asian based operators positioning themselves for the few lucrative licenses. I also anticipate the Philippines to continue with their double digit GGR growth rates, while Korea continues its swift descent with more non-Korean gaming companies running for the exits. Macau will also continue to see a steady growth in 2017 although one major caveat could be the swifter exodus of junket promoters directly handling their players such as Sun City’s casino in Danang, Vietnam.

While the Asian gaming market is unpredictable, one thing we can all be 100 percent sure of is that there is never a lack of excitement and 2017 will be no exception.

Note from Mike Santangelo.

Other notes from:

Andrew Klebanow, Global Market Advisors

Augustine Vinh, president and CEO of Stellar Management

Ben Lee, managing partner of IGamiX Management & Consulting

David Green, CEO of Newpage Consulting

Ebbe Groes, CEO of EveryMatrix

Harmen Brenninkmeijer, managing partner at Dynamic Partners

Jay Sayta, founder of Glaws.com

Michael Zhu, vice president, operations, planning, analysis of Innovation Group

Sam Sheng, director of Double Square Consulting

Steve Gallaway, Global Market Advisors

Sudhir Kale, CEO of GamePlan Consulting

Tim Shepherd, co-founder and president of business development at Silver Heritage Group