Casinos break a new record and surpass MOP13 billion for the first time Macau’s casinos have broken monthly revenue records for the second time this year, pulling in more than MOP14.1 billion (US$1.762 billion) in April. According to data compiled by Lusa News Agency, April’s revenues surpassed MOP14.1 billion, and were 70 percent more than in April 2009, when MOP8.34 billion (US$1.04 billion) was taken in. In accumulated terms, the first four months of 2010 have generated MOP55.1 billion (US$6.887 billion) in revenues against the MOP34.358 billion (US$4.294 billion) during the same period in 2009, a 60 percent increase. April’s new record follows the previous record set in January, when gross revenues reached nearly MOP14 billion (US$1.75 billion). Lusa has had access to provisional figures from the operators, indicating that Stanley Ho Hung Sun’s Sociedade de Jogos de Macau has kept the first place in the rankings, with a market share just above 33 percent, followed by Sands China, with just over 21 percent, and Wynn Resorts – which recently opened Encore Macau – with a little more than 14 percent. The second half of the table is occupied by Melco/PBL, a joint-venture between Lawrence Ho, Stanley Ho’s son, and Australian magnate, James Packer, with around 13 percent, followed by Galaxy Resorts, with just over 11 percent, and MGM Macau, a joint-venture between MGM and Pansy Ho, daughter of Stanley Ho, with just under seven percent of market share. A happy golden goose Gaming inspectors have confirmed huge first quarter profits for Macau’s casinos. The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau has confirmed that the first quarter of this year was the most profitable ever for Macau’s casinos, with gross revenues of MOP40.951 billion (US$5.118 billion). The data corresponds to numbers revealed by Lusa News Agency in early April for casino games, compiled from information obtained from the operators themselves. Between January and March, the Macau gaming sector, which also includes betting on horses and dog races, as well as football and basketball games, and Chinese and instant lotteries, generated gross revenues of MOP41.248 billion (US$5.156 billion). This is higher than the amount registered for the whole of 2004 when the city witnessed the opening of its first gaming venue not owned by Stanley Ho Hung Sun. Big on baccarat Baccarat played in VIP rooms remains the main source of casinos’ gross revenues in Macau, representing 70.23 percent of casino generated revenue or 69.72 percent of total gaming revenue. The baccarat played in common rooms has a weight of 19.6 percent of casino generated revenue or 19.45 percent of the whole sector’s revenue. In cumulative terms, the revenue from casinos in Macau is rising by about 57 percent against that accrued during the first quarter of 2009. As for the operators – and only taking into account March when the Macau casinos generated MOP13.5 billion patacas, 42 percent more than that recorded for the same month in 2009 – Stanley Ho saw an increase in his market share, which reached 35 percent with over MOP4.5 billion in gross receipts, followed by Sands China, with about 19 percent market share, and Wynn Resorts with just over 13.5 percent. Bottom half The bottom half of the operator rankings was occupied by Melco/PBL with just over 12 percent market share, followed by Galaxy with almost 12 percent, and MGM with a little over 8.5 percent. With 33 operating casinos and six gaming operators, 4,811 gaming tables and 14,503 slot machines, Macau is considered the gaming industry’s world capital in terms of total revenue.
—
