In May 2008 SKYCITY Entertainment appointed Ejaaz Dean as Executive Manager- Table Games at Auckland Casino in New Zealand. One year later, in June 2009, he was commenting on the ‘sexy part of the casino business’ – the high roller whales – saying that there are probably only 100 whales in the world and that SKYCITY did not really want to be ‘in that space’. He added that the company was looking towards significant but less extravagant spenders.

In February 2009 it was reported that SKYCITY was hoping to lure back the VIP gamblers and the company announced that Ejaaz Dean had been appointed to Auckland Head Office to run the international side of the casino business. In the last five months of 2010 SKYCITY’s international business is estimated to have more than doubled, with customers from Mainland China heading the list. The company is expecting as many as 30 Chinese high rollers to attend their Chinese New Year celebrations in Auckland. It is preparing four private gaming rooms and upgrading restaurants, hotels and bars.

A SKYCITY sales office in Singapore is assisting in persuading wealthy gamblers to try their luck in New Zealand. Naturally some of the company’s Singapore clients are content to stay at home and gamble at Resorts World Sentosa or Marina Bay Sands, but some Asian visitors from China, Thailand, Malaysia and other countries are happy to sample the golf courses and vineyards that New Zealand offers along with casino gambling. SKYCITY is hoping to increase its annual profits and the high rollers now appear to be an important part of its strategy. (E-01.11.11)

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