• About Us
  • The Team
  • Advertise with Us

The latest news on the gaming industry in Asia

() () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () ()
  • Home
  • Macau
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Rest of Asia
  • World
  • Features
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

TCS John Huxley urges G2E Asia delayed again or dropped

Mar 26, 2020 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck, World  


TCS John Huxley urges G2E Asia delayed again or dropped

A casino technology supplier has criticised what it claims is a decision to press ahead in late July with a rescheduled version of Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia 2020 while the industry and the world economy are still feeling the effects of the global outbreak of coronavirus-related sickness.

In what it termed an open letter to the casino industry, United Kingdom-based TCS John Huxley Ltd said it had approached Reed Exhibitions, a co-organiser of G2E Asia, asking it to “reconsider” the revised dates and “defer the show until the fourth quarter or cancel it entirely”. The event – co-organised by the American Gaming Association – is due to be held at Cotai Expo at the Venetian Macao casino resort in Macau.

The letter added: “Unfortunately, these requests have fallen on deaf ears.” It then directly quoted Tristan Sjöberg, TCS John Huxley’s executive chairman, as saying: “To go ahead with the show under these circumstances is a ludicrous combination of sheer folly and corporate profiteering.”

GGRAsia has approached Reed Exhibitions China, the unit dealing with G2E Asia, seeking comment on TCS John Huxley’s open letter.

A decision announced by Reed Exhibitions in early March – to reschedule G2E Asia from May 19 to 21, to July 28 to 30 – was taken following the restart of casino operations in Macau, after a 15-day period of mandatory closure in February as ordered by the local authorities, as part of efforts there to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Subsequent to the announcement of G2E Asia’s rescheduling to July, the further effects of the pandemic have led to market-wide temporary closures of casinos in key gaming jurisdictions in the Asia-Pacific region, including the Philippines, South Korea and Malaysia.

Casino markets across other parts of the world also have recently reported either total shutdowns of casino business, or much-reduced revenue amid travel restrictions and health checks on consumers arriving at venues due to the global disease alert.

At the time of the rescheduling announcement, a straw poll by GGRAsia of exhibiting firms had indicated qualified support for the new date, although even then some thought it too early.

On Tuesday another casino equipment supplier, United States-based TransAct Technologies Inc, said it planned to cut costs – including attendance at trade shows – “wherever possible”, in response to the economic effects of the pandemic.

Also on Tuesday another supplier – U.S.-based Everi Holdings Inc – said it had implemented “targeted furloughs and company-wide salary reductions” due to the business disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak and its associated Covid-19 infection.

On Monday, Australia-listed slot machine maker Ainsworth Game Technology Ltd warned investors it expected the decline seen in casino-operator and consumer spend on gaming-machine product across its major markets – due to the coronavirus pandemic – to last for some months.

Ainsworth said it was implementing measures including “cost-reduction initiatives” to “mitigate the financial impact of Covid-19”.

TCS John Huxley said in its open letter that the late-July rearranged date was “far too close for any exhibitors to be able to think about taking part”.

The firm invited “other exhibitors and industry professionals to take a stand and advocate for the show to be moved to the end of the year at the earliest”.

TCS John Huxley stated: “To exhibit at a trade show takes months of painstaking meticulous preparation. With so many businesses in lockdown for indefinite periods along with global travel restrictions, it will take some time to re-establish normal working levels and the appetite to travel will be limited for many.”

The company added: “As we emerge from this crisis we will all need to pull together to support each other and our industry, but we need to ensure our decisions are also based on the safety, health and well-being of our customers and our employees.”

The letter further noted: “Having consulted with our customers, it is our firm belief that very few operators outside of Macau will want to, or be able to attend a show in July, even if it could go ahead at that time.”


  • tweet
Related articles
  • G2E Asia 2021 delayed to August from May, amid pandemic
    G2E Asia 2021 delayed to August from...

    Jan 14, 2021  

  • TransAct appoints Randall Friedman, enlarges board
    TransAct appoints Randall Friedman,...

    Nov 13, 2020  

More news
  • CNY 2021 unlikely to boost Macau casinos, say observers
    CNY 2021 unlikely to boost Macau...

    Jan 15, 2021  

  • Mass market play record 65pct Macau GGR in 4Q: govt
    Mass market play record 65pct Macau GGR...

    Jan 15, 2021  


Latest News

CNY 2021 unlikely to boost Macau casinos, say observers

CNY 2021 unlikely to boost Macau casinos, say observers

Jan 15, 2021  

Recent advisory notices issued by a number of local authorities in mainland China, calling on residents not to travel during the February Chinese New Year (CNY) break, further clouds the prospects...
Read More
Mass market play record 65pct Macau GGR in 4Q: govt

Mass market play record 65pct Macau GGR in 4Q: govt

Jan 15, 2021  

Malaysia Covid outlook negative to Genting Bhd: Moody’s

Malaysia Covid outlook negative to Genting Bhd: Moody’s

Jan 15, 2021  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Partners

Pick of the Day

“We expect Las Vegas Sands to not have any material change in strategy. The focus remains developing Macau and Singapore”

Vitaly Umansky, Kelsey Zhu and Tianjiao Yu

Analysts at brokerage Sanford C. Bernstein



Most Popular

  • Sheldon Adelson, self-declared casino industry iconoclastSheldon Adelson, self-declared casino industry iconoclast January 13, 2021
  • Casino entrepreneur Sheldon Adelson dies aged 87Casino entrepreneur Sheldon Adelson dies aged 87 January 12, 2021
  • Guangdong govt advises public to stay in province for CNYGuangdong govt advises public to stay in province for CNY January 11, 2021
  • Quality fake chips sold online found at Macau casinoQuality fake chips sold online found at Macau casino January 13, 2021
  • Revamped Nüwa hotel reopens Feb 8, says City of DreamsRevamped Nüwa hotel reopens Feb 8, says City of Dreams January 12, 2021
Copyright 2014-2020 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us