© Reuters. File photo: A man wearing a face mask stands in front of his Lisboa casino operated by SJM Holdings during the COVID-19 outbreak in Macau, China, December 29, 2022 Walk.REUTERS / Tyrone Siu
(This January 2 article has been resubmitted to correct Melco’s name and stock symbol in the second paragraph)
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HONG KONG (Reuters) – Macau casinos can succeed in a government mandate to diversify away from cash as they launch new licenses to operate in the world’s biggest gambling hub on Jan. 1 I’m betting on something – Ox: Gambling.
For the past 20 years, Sands China (OTC:) has Wynn Macau (OTC:), MGM China (OTC:), Galaxy Entertainment, Melco Resorts (O:), and SJM Holdings (OTC:) have raised billions of dollars from casinos in China’s Special Administrative Regions and invested in once-sleeping fishing changed. Turn your village into a glamorous boomtown.
However, their 10-year shortened deal comes at a time when COVID-19 restrictions have decimated Macau’s gambling income, making 2022 its worst annual performance ever. The industry’s net debt is soaring, and operators face a new era of government oversight and control of their businesses.
The recent easing of coronavirus restrictions in mainland China and Macau in December has also resulted in a wave of infections throughout the city, including many staff.
up the ante
Casinos have pledged to invest a total of $15 billion over the next 10 years, 90% of which must be spent outside gaming.
But given the poor track record since the former Portuguese colony first liberalized the industry in 2001, operators will find it difficult to monetize non-gaming businesses, executives and analysts said. said.
Ben Lee, founder of Macau-based gaming consulting firm IGamiX, said non-game revenue, which averaged around 5% of total gaming revenue before COVID-19, will grow to more than 30% over the next decade. said it must.
“In the last 20 years, no operator has been able to make significant progress in the non-gaming sector.”
“As opposed to the vaunted Las Vegas model, non-gaming in Asia doesn’t deliver the same profit margins because the spending behavior here is so different,” Lee said, noting that Galaxy, Melco and Suns have a diverse base. He added that it was likely to work well with the transformation. About their track record and management team.
Visitors to Macau have traditionally been male gamblers over the age of 30, but in recent years young families and women are visiting.
Macau, a densely populated territory located on China’s southern coast, is the only place in the country where casino gambling is legal.
In December, following the formal awarding of the deal, the casino will expand its non-gaming facilities, including an indoor water park, health and wellness center, art exhibition and a large garden attraction by Sands similar to Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay. announced the plan.
Main issue
Macau’s current non-gaming attractions focus on retail and dining, along with several entertainment offerings such as Melco’s nightclubs, Galaxy cinemas, Sands’ Venetian and Parisian-themed properties, and its exhibition arena. is guessing.
But it pales in comparison to Las Vegas, which boasts daily entertainment and draws an international crowd. More than 90% of Macau’s visitors come from Greater China, prompting the government to require operators to attract foreign tourists as part of the new deal.
The new regulations also stipulate that companies must regularly submit to the government the progress of their investment projects, the value of the investment and the implementation period.
Regulatory scrutiny has increased as Macau casinos face much higher debt levels than in 2019. Net debt is likely to quadruple to $23 billion in 2022 and peak at $24 billion by the end of 2023. Morgan Stanley (NYSE:) said in a December memo.
Exacerbating the casino’s challenges is Macau’s lack of connectivity to international markets, its aging infrastructure, lack of skilled workers, and reputational damage from COVID-19 controls. a decline, officials said.
Macau has few direct flights from potential markets outside China, and transportation within the city is limited to move large numbers of people, said the head of Newpage, a Macau-based game consulting firm. says David Green.
“We see no indication that the government is addressing or intending to address these weaknesses. .”
Competition to host conferences and exhibitions is rife in cities such as Hong Kong and Singapore, as well as within China, while scarcity of land also hinders further development.
Aridad Tash, who has held senior management positions at Macau casinos since 2006 and now runs consultancy 2nt8, said the biggest challenge for operators is that mainland Chinese already have conventions and conventions in their cities. He said it’s access to restaurants, shows and shopping.
“The main reason they come to Macau is gambling, which is illegal in China.”