On Sicbo, Macau, and PacificNet

PacificNet, Inc., a leading provider of Customer Relationship Management, mobile internet, e-commerce and gaming technology in China, announced subsidiary PacificNet Games Limited’s (or PacGames) launch of a new line of gaming products called the Multiplayer Electronic Table Game Series at the 6th International Gaming & Entertainment Expo in Macau, China, last week.

(“The first time,” noted oft-quoted PacificNet CEO Tony Tong, “PacificNet has had a chance to showcase our gaming products at a leading international gaming expo in Macau.”)

The first promised products in the Multiplayer Electronic Table Game series were the multiplayer electronic SicBo machines, which were presented to “leading casino operators in Asia” at the event.

What is SicBo? Glad you asked.

A dice-rolling game, Sicbo is made distinctive by its history. Reads the authoritative-if-minimalist webpage Sicbo.info, in part:

Sicbo, which literally means “dice pair,” is an ancient Chinese gambling game. This name is slightly peculiar since Sicbo is actually played using three standard six-sided casino dice. But Sicbo may have originally used a pair of dice shaken between a plate and an overturned bowl. This is why Sicbo is also called ‘Dice-in-a-bowl’ at some casinos.

At the heart of it, Sicbo seems a simple game with bets placed simply on what gamblers guess the next combination of three dice will be; check out this nicely broken down listed of odds and payoffs for each typical Sicbo table bet at the excellently-named Wizard of Odds. Like craps, it’s gotta be about riding the waves of luck, eh?

Naturally, with the 21st century upon us, the ancient game – like poker, keno, bingo, whatever ways places like Las Vega$ devise for us to part with our money – is now, having passed through mundane electronic ways, digital: In modern casinos the dice are shaken mechanically, and the outcome is keyed into a computer which automatically lights up the winning zones on the table.

Macau as the setting of the games’ launch was appropriate, for according to recent Macau government statistics, Macau is the fastest-growing gaming market in the world and has reportedly recently surpassed Las Vegas as the largest gaming market in the world. Macau’s total gaming revenue is now $7 billion.

Macau is the only area in China where gambling is legal.

As for PacificNet and the PacGames, they’ll be heading on into Manila, Philippines for the GEM Gaming & Entertainment Plus Leisure Expo 2007 starting on Wednesday.

PacGames is a provider of Asian multi-player electronic gaming machines, gaming technology solutions and gaming related maintenance, IT and distribution services for the leading hotel, casino and slot hall operators based in Asian gaming markets.

Beijing- and Hong Kong-headquartered PacificNet Inc. is an investor in and operator of companies that provide outsourcing, e-commerce, and value-added services in China, such as call centers, telemarketing, direct response television marketing, CRM, interactive voice response, mobile applications, and communications product distribution services.

PacificNet corporate clients include China Telecom, China Mobile, Unicom, PCCW, Hutchison Telecom, Bell24, SONY, TCL, Huawei, American Express, Citibank, HSBC, Bank of China, Bank of East Asia, DBS, TNT, and the Hong Kong government. PacificNet employs over 2,300 in China with offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Macau, and branch offices in 26 provinces.