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Part 4 : Factors that will shape Macau ’ s future ICE365 Macau report
Wieners , meanwhile , argues that the players likely to be attracted to offerings in locations such as Japan and Korea are not necessarily the same as those who are attracted to Macau .
“ For IRs in places such as Japan , which are going to use the style of marketing seen in Singapore and Las Vegas – a big amusement park , basically – I think they will attract customers that aren ’ t the hardcore gaming customer but are more interested in the Japanese experience . That leaves Macau with little to worry about .
“ Boiled down I don ’ t see any major threat ,” he says . “ When you talk about the gaming customer , you ’ re always going to have the grind player coming over from Guangdong , making up a massive percentage of visitors just because of the geography .”
Where there may be some revenue attracted away to the other markets it will be through VIP players , though this would be contingent on the regulations around junkets , he says . Parts of China furthest away from Macau could also be lost to these new destinations .
But even then , that new Chinese leisure travel player who would be attracted to Korea and Japan is a new customer and not the type that is currently a regular visitor to Macau , Wieners points out . Therefore , it will have little impact on the SAR .
The ability to attract Chinese players to travel overseas to gamble remains a thorny issue , however . The Ministry of Public Security has moved to restrict gambling tourism , running a pilot
“ Operators will be expected to at least show some signs of moving towards a more inclusive form of entertainment that goes beyond gambling ” programme across a trio of provinces to limit such individuals ’ travel and financial transactions , with more than 35,000 people ‘ grounded ’ through the scheme .
It has also threatened a travel ban for countries that actively promote gaming offerings in China , though whether that ultimately results in action being taken remains to be seen .
“ Obviously China has been very clear , stating that any country whose
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