An alliance for responsible gaming

One of the behind-the-scene activities during the recently concluded Asia’s GEM 2007 exposition and conference held at the Hyatt Hotel & Casino Manila and the World Trade Center was the meeting of leaders of the Euro-Asian Cooperation on Gaming (ECG).

Chaired by Pagcor Chairman and CEO Efraim Genuino, the ECG, now on its second year, aims to foster greater cooperation and mutual support among casino operators, owners, and investors with an eye to continuously strengthening the gaming, entertainment and tourism industry.

As an initiative largely creditable to chairman Genuino, this fledgling organization is slowly shaping up and getting around to tackling the more important issues of the day in search for a stronger alliance for responsible gaming.

Among the notable ECG members are Louis Ng, director and CEO of Sociedade de Jogos de Macau; Jack Lam of the Jimei Group of Companies; Paulo Ho, chairman of Marina Square Properties, Inc.; Jung-Sam Park, president of Grand Korea Leisure Corp.; Duk Shin Park, president of Parthenon Inc., Philippines; and Melvin Stanley Williamson, CEO for International Queenco Group of Companies.

While its current roster of membership is still more partial to Asia, the ECG however has already forged vital working relationships with the European Casino Association representing the interests of almost 900 casinos and 76,000 employees across Europe.

New UK gaming act

Most European countries today are caught in the issue of privatization as respective governments are rethinking just how much control they would continue to wield over their gaming industries. This situation is definitely a hot topic in the UK.

Andrew Love, deputy chairman of The Ritz London and chief executive of The Ritz Club, was not one to mince words about the views of independent club owners in the UK, which he likewise represents as chairman of the newly organized Casino Operators Association.

On Sept. 1 this year, a new Gambling Act will take into effect in the UK, one that attempts to incorporate recent advancements in technology, and will set new rules that recognize and regulate on-line gaming. More importantly, it opens the doors to the lavish gaming-cum-leisure investors, mostly from the US and South America.

Most of British casino operators are not happy with the entry of foreign investments in their industry since it would severely challenge their operations and bring a rush of change in an otherwise conservative local market.

But, as Love intimates, the UK government is harping on the increased revenues that this new law would generate. We are indeed on the threshold of seeing a new face to Britain’s hitherto conservative gaming industry. So will the UK be Europe’s next Las Vegas?

Holland’s responsible gaming

Moving to a more conservative European government with respect to gaming, it was interesting to hear about the compulsive gaming program of Holland Casino, the only legal and licensed casino operator in The Netherlands.

Henk Kivits, chairman and CEO of Holland Casino, heads the three decades-old company that currently operates 14 casino sites throughout the country. His financial savvy doubtless is responsible for bringing in record-breaking profits to the Holland government amounting to 263 million Euros last year alone.

Despite the aggressive marketing that Holland Casino engages in to attract its citizens and tourists, it also manages one of the best responsible gaming policies in Europe renowned for helping arrest gambling addiction problems especially among the youth.

Visitors to any Holland Casino are required to properly identify themselves. With the help of computer-based tracking technologies, Holland Casino is able to determine the visitor’s favorite games, visiting frequency, and average spending inside the casino.

Those who exhibit signs of gambling addiction go through a series of "cautionary interviews" that encourage the concerned casino guest to impose self-restraint in their gaming behavior. Those who fall into the clutches of irresponsible gambling, strict visit restrictions and admission bans are imposed.

The casino also has a program whereby visitors may personally request for visit limitations to help control how often they visit the casino premises in a month. Holland Casino considers more than eight visits a month as an indication of possible gambling addiction.

Holland Casino believes that by pursuing a strong policy that ensures players’ total welfare, an effective balance between guarding against compulsive gambling and generating responsible profits can be maintained.

Congratulations to the organizers of Asia’s GEM expo headed by Ms. Celine Clemente for a meaningful congress and a well-attended expo and exhibit at World Trade Center.

Till we meet again, Jun B

He cares for people, be they be mere ballboys, marquee players, retired has-beens, beat reporters, not-too-easy-to-please team governors or irate basketball fan on the street. That’s how I will always remember PBA Commissioner Emilio P. Bernardino, Jr., or simply "Jun B" for me. He was indeed a well-loved commish.

As a former PBA chairman, I had first-hand knowledge and exposure on how Jun B would put to use his superb "people skills" as he walked the tight rope balancing the overall interest of the PBA organization and the self-serving agenda of each team belonging to the organization. He had on various occasions displayed equanimity and fairness in the midst of spirited discussions among team owners/governors on critical issues affecting the association. Being sensitive to people, he will always have the time and patience to listen to what the other person is saying, be it for or against his view.

Jun B looks at the bigger picture and not merely the narrow interest of what he represents. During the last College Champions League (CCL) finals when an NCAA team (San Beda Red Lions) and a UAAP team (University of the East Warriors) were disputing the championship, he was quick to point out that it was not a test of which league is better but more importantly it was a pursuit for collegiate basketball excellence.

We will all miss you, Commie. Till we meet again, Jun B.

Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 4th Floor, 156 Valero Street , Salcedo Village , 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at [email protected] or at [email protected]. For previous columns, visit my website at http://bizlinks.linkedge.biz.