Beckham in Macau: Between gambling and charity

JAKARTA. World soccer icon David Beckham, former Philippine president Joseph Estrada and former Indonesian boxing champion Pino Bahari sat and maybe raised their hands at the same time and place last week.

The famous faces were watching an international boxing bout between Filipino Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and Texas-born Brandon Rios at the Cotai Arena at the Venetian Macao resort in Macau, China, on Sunday morning.

Watched by thousands in the arena, including hundreds of Filipinos, as well as millions of international TV viewers, Pacquiao outclassed the US boxer in a unanimous decision. The “Pacman”, who is also a Philippine lawmaker, dedicated his victory to the victims and survivors of Typhoon Haiyan, which has killed thousands of people and left tens of thousands homeless.

The spirit of charity was earlier emphasized in the arena by former England soccer team captain Beckham, who as the owner of Beckham Ventures, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sands China Ltd. and Marina Bay Sands Singapore on Nov. 22.

“Sport, business and charity. I love the project. There is a charity aspect to it. I’ve already had [success] in sports […] now in business and charitable activities,” Beckham said in a press conference in the ballroom of the Venetian Macao that was packed with about 300 local and Asian journalists.

Marina Bay Sands Singapore (MBS) invited four journalists from Jakarta, including The Jakarta Post, to attend the media meeting.

Under the MoU, the former Manchester United player will get involved with more charitable activities, including charity events organized by China Sands and MBS.

Beckham had previously cooperated with MBS for its annual charity event, the Sands for Singapore Festival, which raised funds for partner charities such as the Singapore Association for the Deaf and Art Outreach Singapore.

“He was involved in our very successful Sands for Singapore community festival. His participation inspired the young people he met with as well as the local charities that benefited from his generosity,” stated George Tanasijevich, the property’s president and chief executive officer.

MBS, which was developed by Las Vegas Sands, is an integrated resort with the world’s largest casino, hotel, restaurants, a shopping mall, theaters and convention centers.

Besides running MBS, Las Vegas Sands equally owns China Sands Ltd., which operates the Venetian Macao – claimed as Asia’s biggest gaming and entertainment center. The Venetian Macao also houses hundreds of high-end shops, convention halls, theaters and the Cotai arena.

At the Venetian Theater on Nov. 23, US R&B singer Alicia Keys entertained thousands of fans with her hits, including “Girl on Fire”. In a press conference one day earlier, the diva also called on the world to help Philippine typhoon survivors.

After her Macau show, Keys will perform in Jakarta on Friday as part of her “Set The World On Fire Tour”.

Music concerts as well as sporting events, such as boxing bouts, are among the attractions for visitors of the resort, as well as gamblers.

Former Indonesian boxing champion Pino Bahari and his father, promoter and coach Daniel Bahari, also visited Macau to watch the world-class boxing duel as well as to accompany two of their boxers for the opening bouts.

“We have brought two of our boxers,” Pino who now, along with his father, manage Cakti Boxing Club in Denpasar, told the Post before entering Cotai arena.

The arena is located on the first floor of the Venetian Macao, the same floor where hundreds of Casino tables and thousands of gaming machines stand.

Bloomberg earlier reported that Macao’s revenue from gambling jumped 18 percent in the first 10 months of this year, close to the US$38 billion revenue the city earned in 2012.

Jakarta once had casinos under the administration of legendary governor Ali Sadikin in the 1970s despite objections from religious groups. The city used the income to build public infrastructure.

“Those who oppose the casinos should just not walk on the roads I built with the gambling money,” Bang Ali, once said to his opponents.

According to Indonesian law, gambling is illegal except if it is permitted by authorities.

Since the tenure of Bang Ali, who passed away on May 20, 2008, there have been no more casinos in the city. Some gambling dens operate secretly in the downtown Kota area, West Jakarta, with backing security apparatus.
Former governor Sutiyoso once expressed the idea of designating one of Seribu (Thousand) Islands in North Jakarta as a gambling spot. But his idea soon dissipated after it sparked negative reactions from religious politicians.

Back in Macau, the world’s largest gambling hub is still under development as new hotels and roads are still being constructed.

“Here in Macau, Sands China has worked to not only transform the tourist industry by providing a diverse set of entertainment offerings but also by seeking out active engagement with renowned brands and providing a unique experience to the people in and around this area of the world,” explained Edward Tracy, president and chief executive officer of Sands China Ltd.

With the promising future of Macau, celebrities such as Beckham,as well as global entertainers, are expected to visit the Chinese city.

The city also hopes that the possible superfight between Pacquiao versus Floyd Mayweather is held in Macau.

“If the fight is held here, it would make Macau the center of world-boxing arena, instead of Las Vegas,” one of the visitors said.

Can Jakarta learn from the success of Macau in developing its entertainment sector? It needs firm leaders to initiate it.

But with the upcoming general election, discussing the idea of establishing a casino might be political suicide. (Ahmad Junaidi)