Management at SJM Holdings told Goldman Sachs that they expect the duration of concessions terms to be around ten years.  SJM management made the comments...

The strategic and operational implications in light of the new gaming law will be felt much sooner, despite Macau’s economic diversification plan requiring some time to take shape, and the regulatory and industry-wide changes will gradually be compounded into substantial differences over the next decade and beyond, says a research report.

Macau’s economy is ‘expected to rebound at a double-digit rate for the whole year of 2023,’ according to the SAR’s monetary authority (AMCM).

Negotiations over Macau’s new gaming concessions are approaching conclusion, according to TDM Radio Macau, with the six future concessionaires to be obliged to investment plans over the 10-year periods of the new licenses amounting to MOP100 billion ($12.5 billion).

Deutsche Bank is “firmly” of the view that the current six incumbent concessionaires currently operating in the market “will maintain their licenses,” the brokerage noted on a report from a recent field trip to a booming Las Vegas strip.

Macau will be permitted to have six casino concessionaires with the license period reduced to ten years, with the possibility for a three-year extension, according to the city's new gaming law.

The planned investment by Macau gaming concessionaires in non-gaming elements will not prevent casino revenues from increasing in the future, the Chairperson and Executive Director of MGM China, Pansy Ho, commented recently.

Analysts from Morgan Stanley estimate the average yearly spend for non-gaming diversification by the Macau SAR concessionaires over their 10-year concession term will be around 20 percent of EBITDA volume estimated for 2024.

Macau's Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lei Wai Nong, said Wednesday, when commenting on the recent discussion concerning the future of the Macau Jockey Club, that "operators must perform their obligations strictly in accordance with the requirements of the law and the concession contract".

The gaming operators and the Macau government share the same goals, despite delays in diversification plan discussions, the chairman and CEO of Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Lawrence Ho, indicated. The company is also ready to tackle a 20 percent investment pledge increase once GGR levels top $22.45 billion, says the executive.