Casino currency specialist Matsui is exploring fresh markets, including the possibility of becoming licensed as a supplier of casino technology in the newly-emerging jurisdiction of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“We’re looking into it with regard to our live gaming products,” said David Holt (pictured left), managing director at Matsui Europe Ltd. He was speaking to GGRAsia alongside his colleague, Shigeki Machida (pictured right), managing director at Matsui Asia Ltd, at the recent Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia casino trade show in Macau.
“It’s one to watch as the market opens up” as anticipated, added Mr Holt.
He thinks that players in the UAE might opt for the oblong-shaped plaque format of casino currency that is also popular in European casinos.
The first confirmed casino project for the UAE is Wynn Al Marjan Island, in Ras Al Khaimah, a venture between Wynn Resorts Ltd and local partners.
A number of gaming technology suppliers including the Aristocrat group, International Game Technology Plc, and Novomatic AG, has already announced licensing for the UAE, under that federal nation’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority.
Matsui’s Mr Holt said there is a trend for gaming operators to opt for casino-currency plaques that are manufactured using techniques usually associated with the smaller and round-shaped casino chips.
The trend has been seen in Europe, but has also been observed in Asia, said the executive.
“Many more” operators “are opting for the plaque that’s made like a chip rather than the traditional” plaque, he stated.
The new-generation plaques are “produced in the same way as the chips, with injection moulding,” meaning that “the first, second, third colours” used in the new plaques “can be made to mirror exactly, the chip colours” used by the house. “Traditional acrylic plaques are not made that way,” he added.
In addition, high denominations traditionally considered the preserve of oblong plaques can now be represented by ‘plaques’ that are actually ‘round’, said Mr Holt.
“We’ve been able to develop new moulds for oval plaques as well as rectangular plaques,” he explained. “That’s what the customers said they wanted… so we listened, and developed the new moulds.”
The group has had its manufacturing based in South Korea for 30 years.
Mr Machida notes: “The plastics industry is very strong in [South] Korea… They have the cutting-edge technology for injection and moulding” techniques for high-specification products.
Regarding the use of chip manufacturing techniques for plaques, Mr Machida stated that in the “last three, four years,” the company has had “much more” demand for it.
