Inside Asian Gaming

IAG JAPAN NOV 2019 8 In the big leagues M any years ago, I worked for a particular sports magazine that was one of two rival publications covering the sport in question. We had a great team in our office, enough for me to state with confidence – and perhaps a little bias – that we were the more accomplished of the two magazines … except for one small frustration. Once a year, in a tradition it had built up over decades, our rival would publish the results of an anonymous survey in which hundreds of players would give their true thoughts on a whole range of issues impacting the sport. It was always a fascinating read and I couldn’t help but think how great it was for our old rivals to be able to publish that one special issue each year that the entire industry looked forward to. Fast forward a little over a decade and I found myself stepping into the Managing Editor’s shoes for Inside Asian Gaming and, subsequently, having my say in my very first Asian Gaming Power 50. I didn’t fully recognize it at the time (late 2016 it would have been) but IAG’s annual Asian Gaming Power 50 list represents that opportunity I first craved all those years ago to work on something for which the entire industry sits up and takes notice. Another funny story – the significance of the Asian Gaming Power 50 didn’t occur to me even while I was working on my first “Big 50” issue back in 2016. In fact, at the time I was surprised when a number of companies informed me that neither they nor their key executives in contention were particularly concerned with being on the list. But I soon realised such comments belied the truth when almost every one of those companies contacted me immediately after publication of our list that year to ask why their CEO hadn’t been ranked higher, or to send me an updated corporate photo of their owner. Turns out they all cared after all! Of course, four years on and the Asian Gaming Power 50 has become a big part of my life – an issue we plan for a good six months in advance and by far the most demanding collection of content we produce each and every year. It is also the most insightful, surprising and fun. I hope you enjoy what these pages bring as much as we have enjoyed putting them together. Ben Blaschke Managing Editor We crave your feedback. Please email your comments to bb@asgam.com. www.asgam.com EDITORIAL