New Awards Program Announced For Asian Integrated Resorts Sector
Asian gaming regulators will introduce a new awards scheme for the growing sector of integrated resorts; the first ceremony is due to take place next year. Dubbed the ‘IR Academy Awards’, the event will follow a similar structure to traditional counterparts such as the Oscars, and these will take place every year starting October 2022. The new scheme created by Inside Asian Gaming (IAG) is to promote professional standards for the continent to follow and maintain its current stature in the globalized gambling industry.
IAG has announced a new award scheme to promote the success of the Asian gambling industry during a tough economic period. Several Japanese integrated resorts could be nominated for next years presentation as they are among the most successful in the continent. ©MasashiWakui/Pixabay
The first ceremony is set to take place in Macau at the Londoner Casino, a highly prestigious establishment that opened last year during the pandemic. Despite its impressive architectural standards, it is also one of Asia’s most popular venues and has set new records since they reopened following their closure due to COVID. This will be a private event, and no public spectators will be allowed into the ceremony. The IAG has promised to broadcast the award show live on streaming platforms for users to enjoy.
The nomination process will take place throughout the year; a panel of industry experts have been selected to select the best integrated resorts of the year accurately. Every panelist has been thoroughly vetted, and none of them has any business interests, so their judgement will be non-bias and accurate. Once the first ceremony has concluded, finding the next venue will take place, and rumours are that they could take place in Las Vegas in 2023.
Currently, only two categories are up for grabs, split into ‘Industry Risers’ or ‘Industry Icons’, each of which has five subcategories. Members of the academy will be able to vote for anyone but themselves to reach an untainted verdict. Like the Ballon d’Or voting system, each region will have one elected representative who can cast their vote for any nominees. This will ensure that every Asian nation will have their voices heard, concluding an inclusive awards ceremony.
Anyone who has worked in the gaming industry for more than two years can enter for a free academy membership; however, the selection process is difficult and only strategic level operatives are chosen for this position. According to IAG spokesperson Adds Scott, they’ve been working on an awards ceremony for years now. Now that the pandemic’s economic chokehold is withdrawn, the plans can get underway to launch the IR Academy Awards fully.
What are Integrated Resorts?
Integrated resorts are a new phenomenon in the world of land-based casinos. In contrast, large gambling complexes are nothing new. IR’s offer the chance for developers to incorporate elements of online betting into their land-based casinos. For example, the use of commonalities such as live odds and free bets can be used in certain games such as virtual horse racing and other virtual gaming methods. There is an emphasis on technology-based gambling rather than traditional card games, and this makes for a complete thematic experience. Card games are, of course, still available.
The new wave of integrated resorts is different from previous entries due to their massive scale. Some of these complexes are among the largest business owned properties in the world. For example,Marina Bay Sands in Singapore is over 125,000 square metres in size, featuring almost 3,000 rooms, a shopping mall, and several other leisurely conventions. The resort cost over $7.3 billion to construct, making it the most expensive casino to develop in the industries history.
Japan was one of the first countries to demonstrate the effectiveness of integrated resorts properly. The IR Implementation Act allowed Japanese casinos to free themselves of dated regulations and undergo several measures of expansion both online and onsite. Previous laws meant that established gambling zones such as Tokyo, Osaka and other major cities could only house a certain number of casinos. New legislation has blown the door off effectively as the government tries to spark an economic rise in the gambling industry.
