Bee Macau factory to see new playing cards and card shoe rolling off the production line

The Bee Macau manufacturing facility – which entered full-scale production in early May and saw an ‘official inauguration’ ceremony on Tuesday – will produce a new “Bee 68” playing card product as well as a card shoe called “Bee Click-Shoe”. That is according to a Tuesday press release from Bee Macau, issued following an off-site ceremony (pictured), attended by a number of Macau officials. The new Bee 68 playing cards are said to have “embedded tracking facilities”. The facility will also produce Bee Click-Shoe, which has what the manufacturer described as an “innovative cartridge system”. Bee Macau is a joint venture between Belgium-based card maker Cartamundi group and Hong Kong-listed Asia Pioneer Entertainment Holdings Ltd (APE). The latter is based in Macau and operates across business segments including the distribution of third-party gaming technology. Cartamundi acquired the United States Playing Card Co – long associated with the Bee brand – in December 2019, according to an announcement issued at the time by the suitor. The establishment of the Bee Macau is said to involve a circa HKD500-million (US$63.8-million) investment, a May press release had noted at the time the factory started work. In the Tuesday statement, Bee Macau is described as “one of the largest Belgian commercial investments established in Macau to date”. It said the opening of the facility followed five years of planning, technology development, testing, and a pilot programme for production. The update added that “selected Bee casino card decks will now carry the ‘Made in Macau’ label”. Cartamundi Group’s chief executive Stefaan Merckx, said in prepared remarks included in the Tuesday announcement: “Cartamundi is Latin for ‘cards for the world’. That idea has guided us from the beginning: combining global expertise with strong local partnerships.” Mr Merckx also stated: “By bringing advanced manufacturing capabilities closer to customers in Macau and across Asia-Pacific, we can serve them with the speed, quality, security and reliability they expect from us.” Asia Pioneer Entertainment’s chief executive Herman Ng, noted as cited in the Tuesday release: “The playing cards produced here in Macau will be distributed across the globe, demonstrating the strength and uncompromising quality of the ‘Macau Standard’.” Bee Macau’s chairman Jason Pearce was also quotes as saying: “The industry asked for higher standards in security, traceability and environmental responsibility. “Bee Macau combines embedded authentication technology, AI [artificial intelligence]-assisted quality assurance and sustainable packaging solutions to meet those expectations.” Macau’s casino regulator – the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau – had approved in July last year the “Bee-tek Click Security Dealing Shoe (2.43.6n)” and “Bee-tek Security Dealing Shoe (2.42.6n)”. In May this year, the regulator approved the “Bee-Tek Security Dealing Shoe Firmware (v2.42.7n)” and “Bee-Tek Click Security Dealing Shoe Firmware (2.43.16n)”, per bureau approval records viewed by GGRAsia.