Tag: poker

  • Breaking Down The Biggest Asian Companies

    Breaking Down The Biggest Asian Companies

    Are you aware of the fact that Asia is home to some of the biggest companies in the world? Over the years, Asia has managed to build and attract many successful businessmen and women. These individuals have gone on to create many profitable businesses. There is a good chance that you’ve encountered a few of these businesses at some point. However, you may not have realized that they were Asian. With that being said, you’ll want to read this comprehensive guide and learn about the biggest Asian companies on the planet.

    Alibaba

    First and foremost, you should take a look at Alibaba. Most people have heard of this company. If not, there is a good chance that you know about the company’s founder, Jack Ma. He has become one of the most successful businessmen in the world. Alibaba was founded in early April of 1999. It is more than twenty years old and the company has become immensely successful during the past few years. In fact, it is now traded publicly on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker BABA. The company is similar to Amazon but they offer many other services.

    Alibaba is one of the biggest companies in the world. At the end of March 2019, it was said that the company had more than 101,000 employees. If you take a look at the latest Australian pokies news, you will find out that most believe Alibaba will be around for many years to come.

    Avenue Supermarts

    Next, you have Avenue Supermarts. You’ve likely never heard of this company. Nevertheless, they’re very successful in India. The company was founded in 2002 by Radhakishan Damani. The company is publicly traded and it currently operates more than 180 stores. As you can tell by the name, the company operates hyper markets. They’ve been around for more than 17 years and they’ve found great success over the years. It is estimated that the company will generate more than 2.7 billion dollars in 2019 with a net income of more than 133 million. The is very impressive. Remember that this company’s stock is traded on the National Stock Market.

    Tencent

    Tencent is a little different. This is an investment holding conglomerate that has found big success in the past few years. The company is currently based out of China. They’ve been around for more than 20 years. The company was founded in mid November of 1998. They’re publicly traded and they are involved in numerous industries. For instance, you should know that Tencent has become the biggest gaming company in the world. They’re considered one of the most valuable technology companies in the world. Plus, they run one of the world’s biggest social media networks.

    As you can already see, the company is involved in a little bit of everything. They are involved in the smartphone, payment system, social media, music, and mobile games market. This is a very diverse company that is going to continue thriving in the future. They currently employ more than 54,000 employees.

    Samsung

    Next, you have Samsung. This company competes directly with Apple and many American consumers will agree that Samsung is better. The company offers a little bit of everything from televisions to smartphones. They’ve had a few problems during the past few years but they’re grown steadily nevertheless. You can guarantee that Samsung is going to be around for many years. They’re very successful all around the world. If you’re not a fan of the Apple iPhone, you should strongly consider making the switch to a Samsung phone. You’ll be glad that you did in the long run.

    Either way, you can guarantee that Samsung is one of the most successful Asian companies ever.

    Toyota

    Finally, you have Toyota. There is a possibility that you’ve owned a Toyota vehicle in the past. If you have, you likely loved the automobile. The company is very popular because they produce high-quality vehicles that will withstand the test of time. Just remember that the company’s vehicles are slightly expensive. Nevertheless, they’ll prove to be well worth it in the long run. Toyota is capable of producing vehicles that are going to be safe and reliable. On top of that, their vehicles are fun to drive too. Be sure to check out their vehicles!

  • Has China’s poker ban affected the Asian market?

    Has China’s poker ban affected the Asian market?

    It’s been almost a year since the government decided to ban online poker apps and promotion in China. In the months since the ban took effect, both the live and online industry continued to rumble on in neighboring countries. But did the local Asian market experience any negative or even positive effects from the ban?

    Chinese Black Friday

    In April of 2018, the Chinese Government shocked the local poker industry by announcing that as of the 1st of June that year, poker would no longer be recognized as a competitive sport. The day the ban was due to take effect was quickly dubbed “Chinese Black Friday,” and Texas Hold ‘em lovers across the nation reeled as they took in the news. But the fact that poker was no longer a competitive sport was the least of their worries.

    The government decided to prohibit any poker-related apps for mobile devices or desktops, too. They also went so far as to prohibit all social media channels from mentioning poker in any way whatsoever. In one fell swoop, they had crippled the local poker community that now had no means of connecting to play or even discuss the game.

    The local poker industry had been experiencing a period of steady growth to make matters worse. Revenues had increased year-on-year, and in 2017, they were projections to increase by 73 percent per paying customer. Not only would players no longer be able to play, but businesses who had invested heavily in the booming industry stood to lose everything.

    What Happened Next

    Poker experts the world over predicted a dire situation for the Asian poker market, and while it didn’t quite pan out that way, the industry did feel the effects. Many neighboring countries that would hold live tournaments in their casinos had previously held online qualifying events in China using play money. The ban resulted in a significant drop in the number of Chinese players making the trips abroad to play.

    The promotion ban had the most far-reaching effects, though. With Chinese tourists providing a massive boost to many neighboring nations, promoting poker events and casino trips were commonplace. But the ban prevented such marketing tactics, and casinos and gambling destinations were no longer able to promote their services to the biggest tourism market in Asia.

    However, all was not lost, especially in Macau. The expectation was that the self-governing region would suffer the most from the ban as much of its tourism business comes from China, with a large portion of that being poker players who have qualified for live events. But surprisingly enough, the tourist numbers increased once the ban took effect.

    It seems that the poker ban had little effect on their tourism figures. Perhaps this was due to Chinese poker players now realizing that their only opportunity to play was while on holiday in Macau. Whatever the reason, it’s clear that the negative impact of China’s ban on its neighbors was temporary.

    Current Online Poker Business Trends

    It’s safe to say that while live events across Asia weren’t affected too badly, the online market was a little different. The biggest negative effects were, of course, felt by the top online providers who had invested heavily in the local online industry. China had the potential to become one of the biggest online poker markets in the world, but unfortunately, that chance has now passed. Local players were no longer able to play in any way, shape or form with the market now closed.
    However, the Asian market has continued to grow, although at a slower rate now that China has left the table. Online poker tournaments are still quite popular, with global tournaments often boasting a large percentage of Asian players, hinting at the fact that there is still a hunger for the online version of the game in Asia. This point brings us to India.

    In 2017, the Indian online gaming industry was worth an estimated $290 million (USD). And with the industry set to grow further, the top players have looked to this market to replace the losses from China. Admittedly, not every one of the nation’s 120 million online gamers play poker, and there are several states where the game is not permitted, but the potential to increase online poker’s share of that rather large pie is there for all to see.

    The Future

    It’s hard to predict what may happen in the future, but since the Chinese ban came into effect, one thing has become abundantly clear: the poker industry both online and live still thrives. Existing poker markets, such as the Philippines, Malaysia and Macau have flourished while emerging markets such as Vietnam are finally starting to see the returns on their investment in poker. And with Japan also set to enter the market with casinos ready to open by 2024, the future does look bright for live poker.

    Such will likely have a positive effect on the online game in the region. Online poker providers usually sponsor major events, and with more casinos opening than closing, there will be a significant market for local online satellites to qualify for live tournaments held throughout the region. The future also looks bright for online poker.

    So, to answer our earlier question on the effects of the Chinese online poker ban, we’d have to say that yes, the ban has affected the Asian market, but not in the way we expected. While local players struggle to play, tourism in neighboring countries has enjoyed a boost while live poker and online poker both look set to boom in the coming years. Perhaps China will retake their seat at the poker table soon, but for now, the industry survives without them.

  • China retailers play poker in empty malls as shoppers go online

    Property developer Dalian Wanda, owned by China’s second richest man Wang Jianlin, plans to close 10 malls across the country and redesign another 25 to cut retail space, China Business Newsreported last month.
    Zong Qinghou, China’s fifth richest man with a beverage and chain-store conglomerate, said at a forum in August that online shopping businesses are “affecting China’s economic security” by suffocating stores that have to pay rents.

    Stores Close Li Ning Co., a sports-clothing maker, is expected to post losses for the third consecutive year and has closed more than a thousand retail outlets since 2012. Anta Sports Products Ltd., a maker of shoes, has also been shutting down stores partly due to competition from online shopping.

    The internet helps improve productivity and efficiency, but it can be quite painful for traditional businesses, according to Cao Lei, director of the China E-Commerce Research Centre. “Bookstores fail first, then clothing chains, then consumer electronics stores, then air-ticket booking offices, and in the future, bank branches and other traditional services facilities may fail.”