The house always wins
LONDON – It is Wednesday night here in the British capital and the thermometer reads negative three. It is biting cold indeed, but in a place called Troxy, the mood is sizzling hot and sultry – topless ladies in glittering silver bikinis are dancing on a ledge while two women, locked in a tight embrace, are kissing each other insatiably on stage like naked lovers alone in a room.
It isn’t the usual night in this art deco party venue, among the most popular in the city. It’s all those wild nights and so much more.
The hall is dim and hazy with smoke from nicotine, laser lights and machines and the night is young and as wild as can be.
There’s a pungent smell of sweat, perfume, smoke and beer wafting in the air – an aphrodisiac of sorts.
Drinks are overflowing, party music is blaring from the speakers, and gyrating sweaty bodies are touching each other – skin to skin, lips to lips, breasts to breasts – oh the wild surrender. And in just about every corner, on the stage and around the bars, tall, sexy ladies in four-inch stilettos are dancing the night away.
Welcome to Fire and ICE 2018, the much awaited after party of ICE London, touted as the world’s biggest gaming technology event.
Tonight, we see a glimpse of the dystopian future as this year’s party portrays an alternative universe, inspired by Blade Runner and its replicant Zhora.
“We work hard, we party harder,” said an executive of one gaming company when I asked why the party was so wild.
It’s a yearly event, alongside the main global gaming conference. And here, members of the world’s gaming mafia come together, enjoying a night of live acts and performances.
It’s an audio and visual feast for the senses.
The business of gaming
Partying is a big part of the gaming world. After all, those who want to play also enjoy endless drinks, music and pleasures of every kind, the executive explained.
But for gaming companies, parties such as Fire and ICE are really a huge part of the business.
It is where most deals are hatched, my source explained over drinks.
ICE 2018
The 2018 International Casino Exhibition (ICE) was the biggest on record, occupying 43,500 square meters of space, almost twice the space of the 2012 edition, according to the gaming organizer, Clarion Gaming.
Exhibitors and guests from around the world made it to the Feb. 6 to 9 conference to learn about the latest trends and technology in the world of gaming - from third-party payments systems, latest games for both land-based and e-games, newest software technology for online-games, the newest trends in sports betting and what-have-you.
For others, it was also an opportunity to reinforce one’s brand in the global gaming world.
Regulators around the world, including our very own Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), joined the three-day event.
Over tea, Pagcor chair and CEO Andrea Domingo shared why she and Pagcor lawyers and technical staff attended ICE.
“You have to know which machines are in the market and how they play. If you are not attuned to the latest machines, you will be left behind. We own 44 casinos, so we are here and we regulate, so we need to understand,” she said.
Gamblers’ world
Whether in Las Vegas, Macau or the Philippines, gaming is indeed becoming more popular around the world.
From high rollers to mass-market players and from online to brick-and-mortar casinos, there’s no stopping gamblers from making bets. Some gamblers, in fact, have made gaming their lives.
The Philippines is no exception. Domingo said gaming enthusiasts only move from one place to another, but they don’t stop.
The downside, however, is when gambling becomes an addiction. How then can one stop the vice – as others call it? One gaming executive, a man who has been in the business for 12 years, gave this advice: “Just remember, the house always wins.” To put it simply, he said, whether a player wins or loses, the house or the gaming company always earns.
“So don’t gamble for money, just do it to enjoy,” said the executive.
He said it’s just like going out to dinner where you spend money, but in the end you enjoyed the experience. “It’s the same in gaming. Just enjoy the moment,” he said. It’s good piece of advise, but it does not always work. But I agree and I can bet on it – indeed, the house always wins.
PAL, now a four star airline, has a new vice chairman
Lucio “Bong” Tan Jr., the son and namesake of taipan Lucio Tan shared with me the news that Philippine Airlines is now the country’s first four-star airline. Kudos, PAL!
Bong also proudly shared photographs of the awarding ceremony held recently in Singapore. His father, PAL chairman Kapitan, dapper in an elegant dark suit and a bright red tie, was visibly beaming with pride when he received the award from SkyTrax.
“This is for the Filipino pride,” said Bong, now the vice chairman of PAL, a position previously held by his uncle Harry.
Bong was elected vice chairman two weeks ago.
MacroAsia’s buying spree
Another Tan-owned company MacroAsia, meanwhile, is said to be in talks to acquire airport ground service provider Sky Logistics and its sister company, inflight caterer Sky Kitchen. My sources said the company is looking to conclude the deal by the end of the first quarter. “Big things are coming for MacroAsia,” said an insider. Are Sky Logistics and Sky Kitchen included? Let’s wait and see.
With all these developments, it seems that quite a lot of things are happening in Kapitan’s empire. Only Kapitan knows for sure what other developments are up ahead.
Iris Gonzales’s e-mail address is eyesgonzales@gmail.com.