Breaking through

American electronic gaming company GameCo is looking to enter the Macau market, according to statements made by the company’s CEO, Blaine Graboyes, to website Esports Insider.
“In Macau, we’re definitely looking to create some new games specifically for the Chinese gambler, while also bringing some of our best performing games from North America that will appeal to Asian gamers,” Mr. Graboyes told the publication.
GameCo is known for having created what they describe as the world’s first Video Game Gambling Machines (VGM) to be approved by U.S. gaming regulators, with the machines being introduced in casinos in Atlantic City in November of 2016.
The machines produced by GameCo are arcade-style cabinets where players bet on single-player skill based games, with the company stating they allow the ‘same return to players as traditional slot machines’.
According to the GameCo CEO, although the MSAR and the American gaming markets differ considerably in the proportion of slot machines, both markets have the same type of new generation of gamers.
“Both markets, as well as other international markets, are definitely focused on diversification and the ability to generate incremental revenue from new customers […] The entire casino industry is now keenly focusing on innovation with new products with an eye towards expanding the player base and attracting a younger audience,” he added.
Regarding the timeline of the planned entry into the local market, responses are pending from the company.
Skill-based electronic gaming is currently not included in the legislation regulating gaming, with the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) not having provided indications that it will discuss the issue.
According to Mr. Graboyes, GameCo is looking to also expand into “Latin America, the UK, and the Netherlands, as well as specialty markets such as cruise ships”.