Chapter 0924 – Gambling Cards (I)
“Master He ……, you …… you’re not joking, are you?”
Since Zhuang Rui just knew that the cost of this ship is as high as more than three billion dollars, he dismissed the whole idea of such a salvage ship, the cost is too high.
That said, if anyone has three or four billion dollars, and then run to the sea to fish for objects, that is not full of support? That is, Zhuang Rui can see the seabed treasure, which only got up the idea of getting a salvage ship to the sea to scavenge.
“Oh, do you see that my old man looks like he’s joking with you?”
The old King of Gamblers glanced at Zhuang Rui, stretched out his hand and picked up a grape, put it in his mouth and chewed it, and after coming over for a long time, then said, “This ship has been idle for quite a number of years, and I’m not using it if I keep it, so what’s the harm in giving it to you to play with it?”
Zhuang Rui heard can not help but skimmed his mouth, you this boat built at least ten years, also did not see to give someone else to play with, this year, nothing to offer solicitude, must be non-traditional that is, Zhuang Rui heart to raise the alarm, but did not pick up the words of the old man.
“How? Do not want?”
The King of Gamblers saw Zhuang Rui sitting there in silence, asked a little strangely.
“Want, can’t afford to raise.”
Zhuang Rui said is the big truth, this month to be tens of millions of maintenance and staff salary costs, he really can not afford to play, I am afraid that in addition to the King of Gamblers such as hundreds of billions of dollars of people, can afford to raise such a luxury ferry, there are not really many people.
Zhuang Rui now even a little doubt, this old man is not feel this ship to stay around like chicken ribs, this is to send to their own ah?
After all, every month with nothing, but also spending tens of millions of dollars in expenses, is again rich, the heart will not be very comfortable, right?
Zhuang Rui raised a private jet, monthly expenses are only a few hundred thousand, which all let him think about it is still a little bit of pain, if the whole so a gold-sucking ship, I’m afraid that Zhuang Rui night sleep is not stable.
“That’s true, there are more idle people on this ship.”
Old King of Gamblers on Zhuang Rui’s words thought deeply, since the year this ship withdrew from the high seas, the end of the gambling ship business outside, just stay in the harbor occasionally entertaining guests with, but the old King of Gamblers is more sentimental, when the crew of the high-paid, but are all raised.
This annual cost of hundreds of millions of dollars, the old King of Gamblers is experienced, Zhuang Rui said so, his eyebrows also frowned.
“In fact, it’s enough to keep 100 people on this ship, young man, if you are willing to take it, I’ll leave the captain and the crew to you, and I’ll arrange the others separately, what do you think?”
Don’t look at this ship is quite big, but the automation is very high, driving this ship to dozens of people on the line, the 100 people that the old gambling king said, in fact, also includes some cooks and cleaners, this is essential, or else in a month or two down, the ship can grow hair.
“Old master, what exactly do you …… you require of the late generation, just say it directly! This boat …… I really can’t afford to consume ah!”
Zhuang Rui was this old man got a little seven meat and eight veins, he has also seen a lot of eccentric people, but never seen to take a few billion hard to their own arms, he is not afraid of their own hands will be sold off this ship?
The monthly expenses of 100 people should not be more than three million, this Zhuang Rui is affordable, but such a big favor, he did not dare to ask ah! Who knows what conditions the old King of Gamblers will offer if he takes the boat?
To say that the world has a free lunch to eat, Zhuang Rui believe, because in the casino can eat a free buffet, you only need to exchange a few chips, even if you do not gamble, but also free to eat a meal.
But to say that the sky falls pie, Zhuang Rui is not believe, even if it can fall down, so high can also be smashed a non-death or injury.
The old King of Gamblers looked a little difficult to touch his very distinctive nose, said, “I say little guy, I give you a gift you do not want, I can not say this condition ah!”
“Master, there are orders you can mention, I will do my best if I can.”
Zhuang Rui’s heart is also a little curious, this old man is rich and powerful in Hong Kong and Australia, what can he have to do to help himself ah? However, Zhuang Rui did not say dead, can do will help, can not do that will be sorry you.
The old King of Gamblers heard Zhuang Rui’s words, eyelids slightly drooped, seemed to fall asleep, just when Zhuang Rui a little impatient, suddenly opened his eyes, stared at Zhuang Rui and said, “I want you to help me gamble on a game in the name of SJM.”
“What …… what?”
Zhuang Rui at the moment suspected that his ears were out of order, sitting in Macau for nearly half a century, the king of the hall of gambling, actually let himself help him to gamble? Is it possible that all the people he keeps under him are losers?
Although the old world gambling king Stevenson was crippled by himself, and the current gambling king Jervis also left Macau in disgrace, Zhuang Rui did not believe that the gambling king did not have his own trained gambling experts under his command?
“Master, are you kidding? I don’t know anything about gambling, and I was able to win twice all by luck, this is something that I can’t help you with.”
Zhuang Rui didn’t even think about it and rejected it, he could make this old man who was over 90 years old to ask for help, it must be that this gambling game was exceptionally important, although Zhuang Rui had the certainty to win, but he didn’t want to go out of the limelight.
In the national consciousness, gambling must be involved in the black, and like the king of gamblers such a character, involved in the international underworld, I’m afraid that if I really help him win money, I’m afraid that all have no little life to enjoy this luxury ferry.
“Young man, do you know where the origin of your visit to Macau is this time?” The old man didn’t get angry after hearing Zhuang Rui’s words, but asked leisurely.
“My friend was cheated, I came to get back what I should get back.” Zhuang Rui replied.
“That’s right, this kind of cheating, if it was before 2002, it would never happen in a Macau casino, I don’t dare to say that there are no cheats in Macau, but no one dares to be so blatant.”
The words of the old man said a little hasty, after the end of the speech and coughed, Zhuang Rui hastily poured a cup of warm water on the table and handed it over.
“Why after 2002, those hustlers will be so indulgent?”
Zhuang Rui is really a little strange, for a casino, the flow of water is the most important, and that the joint Liu Minghui to the old four “set” casino, obviously in the chicken and eggs, this is extremely unwise behavior.
“Gambling cards, all because of gambling cards.”
Old King of Gamblers’ eyes, which were originally a little cloudy, instantly became sharp after the mention of the word “gambling cards”, with an inexplicable light flashing in his eyes.
“Gambling license? Isn’t it true that you can only start gambling in Macau if you have a gambling license?”
Zhuang Rui didn’t quite understand this, but as the name suggests, it should be the same type of thing as a company business license, right?
The old King of Gamblers nodded and said, “Yes, you understand correctly, a gambling license is a gambling rights business license, with this, you can only open a casino in Macau.”
“Then this thing should be issued by the Macau SAR government, right? What does it have to do with gambling?”
Zhuang Rui is still a bit puzzled, there are dozens of casinos in Macau, big and small, this one in front of him alone owns 11 of them, with his status in Macau, is it not a breeze to get a few more gambling licenses?
“Of course it’s relevant, I’m tired, these things, let Ah Ming tell you.”
The old King of Gamblers had said a lot of words today, his spirit was a bit tired, he beckoned to the old bursar standing in the distance, and when he came over, he said, “Tell Xiao Zhuang about the history of the development of gambling licenses in Macau.”
“Yes.”
The old bokan bent down respectfully and faced Zhuang Rui and said, “Mr. Zhuang, the first gambling license issued in Macau was in October 1961, when Mr. Ho joined forces with Mr. Fok and others from Hong Kong Island.”
A story about the development of gambling in Macau unfolded from the mouth of the old Dutchman.
It turned out that in the 1960s of the last century, the old King of Gamblers joined forces with a group of Hong Kong tycoons and narrowly beat the competition by 17,000 dollars more, winning the Macau casino franchise in one fell swoop and opening the first casino in 1963.
From then on, after decades of dismal operation, Macau’s gaming industry became as popular as ever in the hands of Mr. Ho, making Macau gaming industry a world-famous oriental gambling city, along with Las Vegas in the United States and Monte Carlo in Morocco, the world’s three largest gambling cities.
From the late nineties to the present, the old King of Gamblers paid as much as 6 billion dollars in taxes from the gaming industry every year, so it can be said that he alone supported the entire Macau gambling industry.
However, in 2002, there was a sudden change of wind and clouds, and the Macau government decided to reform the gaming industry and issued three gambling rights operating licenses in that year, which broke the history of the old gambling king monopolizing the gambling industry in Macau for nearly half a century.
At that time, the competition was extremely fierce, a total of 21 companies expressed their determination to win the gambling licenses, in addition to the local forces represented by the King of Gamblers in Macau, there were also a number of companies from the United States, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, the Philippines and other places.
World-class casino and hotel consortiums, including the world-renowned MGM, Las Vegas and Sun City of the United States, as well as Genting of Malaysia, have attached exceptional importance to the issuance of the gambling license.
The 21 consortia promised to invest an average of around US$2 billion in the Australian gambling industry, with the smallest investment exceeding US$1 billion and the largest reaching HK$40 billion.
At that time, the King of Gamblers was extremely dissatisfied with the government’s decision, and in an interview with the local media, he indicated that, with his 40 years of management experience, there was no need to cooperate with other companies, and the old King of Gamblers insisted on “playing by himself”.
But the trend, and ultimately the gambling industry in Macau from the King of Gamblers initiated the domination of the world, to the current three worlds, the gambling license by the King of Gamblers, SJM, and Wynn, Galaxy, three companies were obtained.
Unlike King Gambler’s SJM, the remaining two companies are backed by foreign gambling consortia.
Like Galaxy Casino Corporation, though ostensibly a gaming company formed by the family of Hong Kong businessman Lui Che-woo and the Venetian Group.
But behind it is American gambling celebrity, Sheldon Edson of the Venetian Group in Nevada, and holds at least 30% of Galaxy’s shares.