AGBrief Editorial

Macau’s Civil Aviation Authority (AACM) has outlined upcoming changes to scheduled flights, signaling a positive shift for air travel in the region.

Two developments surrounding Commissioner Martin Mendiola and Attorney Michael Chen have made headlines this week.

The Embassy of China in the Philippines, on Thursday, has issued a statement emphasizing its support for the Philippine Government in addressing the 'root causes' of issues stemming from the offshore gambling industry.

Macau is still working on bringing more international visitors due to the lag behind recovery pace. In the first quarter of the year, the city received 585,000 international visitors out of a total of 8.9 million visitor arrivals.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has announced the appointment of lawyer Wilma Eisma as the new President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), making her the first woman to hold the position of President and COO.

Helena de Senna Fernandes, Head of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), projects that Macau may receive an average of 150,000 inbound tourists per day during the Labor Day Golden Week. The projection surpasses the numbers seen during the Cheng Ming and Easter holidays.

A supreme court decision over gaming taxation will hold significant implications for an industry grappling with regulatory uncertainties and divergent tax rulings across the country, legal analysts considered.

Sands China has reported a 53.3 percent increase in adjusted property EBITDA for its Macau operations in the first quarter, while Marina Bay Sands was also up by over 50 percent during the period.

Gambling giant Entain has surprised analysts with its resilience in the face of challenging market conditions.

In Q1, Macau Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) experienced a 6 percent quarter-on-quarter growth, reaching MOP57 billion ($7.06 billion), equivalent to 75 percent of pre-COVID-19 levels.

Crown has revealed the latest addition to its redevelopment plans with the introduction of ‘The Henley at Crown Melbourne,’ an upmarket bar set to open later this year.

The gaming operators Galaxy Entertainment and MGM China consider that the industry’s competition is 'intensifying' but remains ‘manageable.'

The investment bank Morgan Stanley has lowered Galaxy Entertainment’s earnings forecast due to market share loss.

New Zealand and Australian gaming operator SkyCity Entertainment Group has announced the appointment of former Aristocrat executive Jason Walbridge as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer.

Macau’s Chief Executive, Ho Iat Seng, expresses his confidence that Macau will attract more than 30 million visitors this year.

The final death knell for Imperial Pacific International appears to have been rung, as Hong Kong’s High Court ordered the company to be wound up and appointed a provisional liquidator.

Newport World Resorts achieved a new annual high in gross gaming revenues in 2023, topping $600 million, with double-digit returns in its non-gaming revenue.

During a plenary session of the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, Macau's top official, Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng, reiterated that the Macau Jockey Club (MJC) land would not be used for gaming purposes.

The Thai Cabinet has designated the Finance Ministry as the primary agency responsible for reviewing a report prepared by an ad hoc House committee regarding the potential for establishing entertainment complexes with casinos in the country.

Gaming revenue at Okada Manila fell by nearly a quarter in the first three months of the year, as gross gaming revenue from the VIP segment tumbled 42.61 percent year-on-year.