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Macau Police seize 585 counterfeit chips, 5 arrested 

Gaming Chips, Macau Gaming

Macau Judiciary Police uncovered a cross-border criminal syndicate that utilized counterfeit chips in casinos, leading to the arrest of five suspects from mainland China.

During the investigation, police seized 585 counterfeit chips, each with a denomination of HK$10,000 ($1,280), totaling HK$5.85 million ($750,000) in value.

On Tuesday (April 30th), the police received a report from a casino in the Cotai area regarding a customer exchanging chips for money, which were later discovered to be fake. 

Subsequently, the police initiated an investigation and apprehended five mainland men, aged 21 to 28, suspected of aiding criminal organizations by transporting fake chips from mainland China to Macau and using them for gambling in casinos.

Among the more than 580 counterfeit chips seized by the police, over 130 were discovered in toilets and taxi compartments at the border gate, believed to have been abandoned by fugitives during their escape.

A police officer stated that the seized counterfeit chips were highly realistic and difficult to differentiate with the naked eye. It is believed that the criminal group commenced operations in March, utilizing associates to transport counterfeit chips to Macau.

The police are pursuing at least three additional suspects who remain at large in connection with the case, and the investigation is ongoing.

Thai gaming market extremely compelling, UAE casino still on the radar: MGM CEO

Bill Hornbuckle, MGM Resorts, CEO, President

The cost of doing business in Thailand and the estimated margins make the possible future gaming market very compelling, while the UAE holds potential, notes the CEO and President of MGM Resorts International.

Based on preliminary plans, the Thai government aims to issue between five to eight casino licenses. Locations in key economic zones, including the Eastern Economic Corridor and popular tourist destinations like Phuket and Chiang Mai, are prime candidates for Entertainment Complex (EC) establishments.

The Thai government’s proposal to tax gross gaming revenue (GGR) at a relatively low rate  of 17 percent, combined with plans for extensive industry development, signals a welcoming environment for investors.

“Thailand is interesting. Obviously, it’s fully within the government’s control and hands at this point. The dialog to date has been encouraging. We will see. The cost to do business there, the margins that could be had would be compelling, very,” William Hornbuckle said in the group’s most recent conference call.

Addressing the possibility of the development of a gaming market in Thailand, the MGM CEO expressed belief that the proposed government plans would eventually “come to fruition”.

Marsa Al Arab, Dubai, UAE. Gaming, MGM, Thailand

Possibilities in the UAE, Japan progressing

Among others, Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts International have designs to enter a potentially lucrative gaming market in the United Arab Emirates, a Middle Eastern country of about 9 million people.

Wynn is a little further along with its $3.9 billion project, on the man-made Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, which was first announced in early 2022.

Wynn Resorts, Marjan Islands (1)
Wynn Al Marjan

“I think there’s enough indicators there, enough work has been done to recognize that either Abu Dhabi of note, or one of the other Emirates will come to life. Wynn has a project in the ground and is waiting for national legislation and regulatory framework. So, I think that would be the most affirmative,” the MGM CEO pointed out.

MGM is developing a non-gaming resort in Dubai, the UAE’s largest city, with three hotel towers totaling 1,500 rooms branded under the Aria, MGM Grand and Bellagio names.

As for the group’s IR project in Osaka in partnership with ORIX, Horbuckle pointed out that the venture closed on the JPY530 billion ($3.4 billion) project financing for the property.

OSAKA-IR, MGM-Orix, Japan
MGM Osaka IR

“We also bought back over $500 million of shares in the quarter and as of yesterday, we’ve reduced our outstanding float to 313 million shares, 37 percent fewer than at the start of 2021.

Imperial Pacific needs $150M to complete Garapan IR

Imperial Pacific International, IPI, Saipan

Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC’s director/general manager Howyo Chi recently revealed that completing the casino/resort building in Garapan will require an estimated $150 million investment from IPI.

According to the Saipan Tribune, during a monthly meeting of the Commonwealth Casino Commission board, when asked about the availability of manpower to finish construction, Chi admitted uncertainty on this matter.

However, he mentioned that some Korean and Japanese construction companies have expressed interest in collaborating with IPI on the project.

Regarding inquiries about IPI’s ability to hire foreign workers, Chi stated that there is currently a four- to five-year ban on such hires, effective from 2020. He indicated that once settlements with the US Department of Labor are reached and certain deposits are made, they expect to be permitted to employ foreign workers to complete the construction.

Chi also mentioned plans to appoint a Chief Executive Officer before the facility becomes operational. With the filing of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition, he believes that the receivership process has been automatically halted.

Facing mounting financial pressure and multiple civil lawsuits totaling over $150 million, Imperial Pacific has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, halting negotiations with the CCC.

IPI has also been ordered by Hong Kong’s High Court to wind up the parent company of the Saipan casino.

South Korea’s Paradise Co sees 59% surge in gaming revenue in April m-o-m

Casino Walker Hill, Paradise Co.

South Korean foreigner-only casino operator Paradise Co. reported a 59 percent surge in casino gaming revenue on a month-to-month basis in April, totaling KRW84.14 billion ($61.1 million).

The increase in revenue is mainly attributed to a sharp surge in table games as compared to March.

According to the company’s latest update on the South Korean Stock Exchange, table games revenue grew by 62.2 percent monthly to KRW79.33 billion ($57.7 million), while machine revenue saw a 19.7 percent increase to KRW4.8 billion ($3.5 million) from the previous month.

On a year-on-year basis, the company’s gaming revenue for March experienced an increase of 56 percent.

Table gaming showed a 58 percent increase compared to the same month in 2023, while machine gaming revenue also rose 25.9 percent year-over-year.

Paradise Co. specializes in operating foreigner-only casinos, including Walker-Hill, Jeju, Incheon Paradise City, and Busan Casino.

Macau’s May GGR expected to hit $2.5B, Labor Day hotel prices 30% below CNY: brokerages

Macau, Tourism, Golden Week, daily visitors

Investment bank Citigroup anticipates that Macau’s gross gaming revenue (GGR) in May could reach MOP20 billion ($2.49 billion), about 77 percent of 2019 levels.

The group made the comment following the announcement by the Macau gaming regulator, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), regarding April gaming revenue. Macau’s April GGR came in at MOP18.5 billion ($2.29 billion), falling 4.9 percent from March but growing 26 percent from the same month of 2023.

Macau, April GGR reaches $2.29B, down 4.9% m-o-m

This figure represents MOP618 million ($77 million) per day and 79 percent of April 2019 levels. Analysts George Choi and Ryan Cheung note that this implies that the daily run-rate for the final nine days of the month increased to MOP672 million ($83.8 million), which is about 12 percent higher than that of the prior week, at MOP600 million ($74.8 million).

‘We believe the higher daily run rate suggests that there were some early birds going to Macau even before the Labor Day Holidays (which span from May 1st to May 5th for Mainland China) start,’ note the analysts.

In another investment memo from Morgan Stanley, analysts note that the month-on-month drop in GGR is ‘slightly better than the normal seasonality of 6 percent month-on-month drop’.

Analysts Praveen K Choudhary and Gareth Leung estimate that Macau’s mass GGR came in at 114 percent of the 2019 level versus 112 percent for 1Q24, while mass GGR per Chinese visitation remained well above the 2019 level – it was 149 percent of the 2019 level in March 2024.

Morgan Stanley forecasts May GGR at MOP19.7 million ($2.46 billion), slightly lower than Citigroup’s forecast. Second quarter GGR is also expected to experience a sequential drop of 2 percent but still attain 77 percent of 2Q19 levels.

Restaurant-The-Book-Lounge, Karl Lagerfeld Hotel, Grand Lisboa Palace, Macau

Labor Day hotel prices 30 percent below CNY

In an investment memo from UBS, the research team finds that the May Labor Week holiday begins on May 1st, with 24 out of 31 tracked hotels being sold out or reserved, while during the Chinese New Year (CNY) Holiday this year, 27 hotels were fully booked. However, ‘comparable hotel prices averaged 30 percent below CNY 2024 levels,’ note the analysts.

UBS indicates that the event pipeline turns busy in May, with all operators (except MGM) holding concerts during the Labor Week holiday.

Macquarie Equity Research reveals that 11 of 32 local luxury hotels indicated all five nights of the break were fully booked one week ahead of the Labor Day holiday. The Macau Tourism Industry Association expects the hotel occupancy rate to be 90 percent, versus 85 percent last year.

PAGCOR crackdown on illegal Facebook gambling, 16 arrested

PAGCOR crackdown on illegal Facebook gambling, 16 arrested

Philippine authorities have arrested 16 individuals linked to an illegal online raffle on Facebook in a joint operation between the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) and representatives of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

According to a press release, PAGCOR indicated that the suspects, who operated the Facebook Page Lucky Dream 4, were apprehended in their office inside a subdivision in Biñan, Laguna while livestreaming their 50th raffle event.

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco stated that the arrest was part of the state gaming agency’s commitment to intensify the fight against illegal online gambling through strengthened collaboration with law enforcement agencies.

“We have been receiving reports of illegal online activities, including those on social media platforms. As the country’s gaming regulator, it is our duty to protect the public, especially the youth, from these illegal online gambling sites,” he said.

PAGCOR crackdown on illegal Facebook gambling, 16 arrested

PAGCOR Senior Vice President Raul Villanueva added that Lucky Dream 4, which has 111,000 followers on Facebook, has been conducting live online raffle games and offering second-hand modified motorcycles as prizes.

“They have amassed over PHP8 million ($140,000) from the time they started this illegal online operation because in one draw, they can sell as many as 50,000 tickets,” said Villanueva, head of the PAGCOR Security Group.

Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: MGM China breaking records again in the first quarter

MGM China, Asia's Best Sustainability

Good Morning. The lion continues to roar. MGM China posted record-breaking results again for the first quarter, showing how the group is clawing out even more market share and truly leveraging its Cotai Strip property for maximum gain, particularly from the mass segment. Meanwhile, China’s sentiment on Macau is positive, with new visa policies to help in the short-term but with mid- and long-term impacts uncertain so far. And further abroad, Melco’s City of Dreams Sri Lanka is estimated to hit GGR of up to $250 million, as management anticipates a $125 million investment in the casino project.

What you need to know


On the radar


AGB Intelligence

MACAU

MGM China hits new records in first quarter

Macau continues to be a golden goose for MGM China, with the company breaking records yet again in the first quarter, driven by strong results and heady visitation. The group continues to steal market share from other operators, with its Cotai property performing impressively. Property EBITDA saw particular advances as the group focused on the mass market and aimed to cut down costs, driving triple-digit advances when compared to 1Q19.


Corporate Spotlight

Fast Track leading digital transformation in Asia’s iGaming sector

Fast Track, Igaming CRM, Asia

Fast Track is setting new standards in CRM for the iGaming industry across Asia, as underlined at the ASEAN Gaming Summit 2024. Harnessing the power of real-time data, AI-driven automation, and personalized player engagement, Fast Track’s innovative solutions are responding to the industry’s expansion and actively shaping its evolution.

A complete guide to the 1xBet affiliate program

A complete guide to the 1xBet, affiliate program

1xBet, a leading global betting company, introduced its affiliate program in 2016, quickly becoming renowned within the industry and earning recognition at the SBC Awards.


Industry Updates


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MGM China first quarter results outshine pre-COVID era, company continues gaining market share

MGM Cotai, Macau, MGM China

MGM China has announced its continued resurgence in the first quarter of the year, with record high adjusted EBITDA and market share during the period.

According to unaudited results published on Thursday, adjusted EBITDA hit HK$2.5 billion ($320 million), up by 77.3 percent yearly and a rise of 155 percent from the first quarter of 2019.

The group notes that its EBITDA results were due to its ‘mass-focused business and continuous improvement in operational efficiency’.

The group’s market share also rose to 17 percent in 1Q24, up from 15.2 percent in the same quarter of last year and 9.5 percent in 1Q19. The group notes that MGM Cotai’s market share was 10.1 percent while its peninsular property MGM Macau was 6.9 percent.

The property on the Cotai Strip brought in revenue of some $4.8 billion ($613.6 million) during the quarter – strong increases from the HK$2.5 billion ($320 million) seen in 1Q23 and HK$2.4 billion ($307 million) in 1Q19.

Meanwhile it also saw adjusted EBITDA of HK$1.4 billion ($179 million), a 95 percent yearly increase and a 157 percent rise from 1Q19.

Meanwhile, MGM Macau brought in some HK$3.5 billion ($447.5 million) in revenue, up from HK$2.3 billion ($294 million) in 1Q23 and HK$3.4 billion ($434.6 million) in 1Q19.

MGM Macau, MGM China

Adjusted EBITDA at the peninsular property increased to HK$1.1 billion ($140.6 million) – the same as in 1Q19 but an increase from the HK$695 million ($88.9 million) seen in 1Q23.

Net revenue for the group rose by 70.6 percent yearly, topping 143 percent of 1Q19 levels, at HK$8.3 billion ($1.06 billion).

Gross gaming revenue rose by 7 percent quarterly, reaching 74 percent of the same period in 2019 – estimated at MOP630 million ($78.2 million) per day in 1Q24. Mass GGR meanwhile increased 5 percent sequentially to hit all-time highs, at 110 percent of pre-COVID levels. Mass GGR including slots totaled 189 percent of pre-COVID levels.

Hotel occupancy was also healthy during the period, at 93.4 percent – single-digit rises from both 1Q23 and 1Q19.

Kenneth Feng, MGM China
Kenneth Feng, Executive Director, MGM China

The group has also proposed a total dividend of HK$0.347 per share.

Speaking of the results, MGM China’s President and Executive Director Kenneth Feng noted that “Our outstanding performance demonstrates our deep understanding of customers with continued improvements in service levels

“The resumption of dividend demonstrates our confidence in the future of Macau and MGM China, along with our commitment on bringing return on investment to shareholders,” noted the executive.

OpenBet bolsters compliance technologies with the launch of OpenBet Locator, powered by AWS

OpenBet, bolsters compliance technologies with the launch of OpenBet Locator

OpenBet, a leading content, platform and service provider to the global betting industry, has bolstered its modular product portfolio with the launch of its new flexible and scalable geolocation product – OpenBet Locator.

Built on the backbone of Amazon Web Services (AWS), OpenBet’s strategic cloud provider, OpenBet Locator is a low latency solution that enables operators worldwide to locate, promote to, and monitor customers, remaining fully compliant with regulatory requirements.

The technology strengthens OpenBet’s reputation for market-leading player protection and compliance following the company’s acquisition of Neccton in 2023. With OpenBet’s regulatory reach and multiple licenses, brands will be able to ensure seamless and swift integration of its trusted and compliant technology into their ecosystem.

The product is underpinned by OpenBet’s unrivaled expertise within the global betting industry and is designed to remove the friction of geolocation to the end-customer’s onboarding process.

Jordan Levin, CEO of OpenBet, said: “Introducing OpenBet Locator™ is an exciting move for us and takes our modular product offering to a new level. Built in-house and leveraging AWS technology, we have developed a strong proposition that can be tailored to meet unique business needs.

Sportradar appoints Behshad Behzadi as Company’s CTO and Chief AI Officer

Behshad Bezhadi, CFO, Chief AI Officer, Sportradar

Sportradar Group has announced that Behshad Behzadi has been named Chief Technology Officer and Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer of the Company (CTO and CAIO), effective May 1st.

As Sportradar’s CTO and CAIO, Behzadi will be based in the organization’s headquarters in Switzerland and report directly to Chief Executive Officer, Carsten Koerl.

Working collaboratively across the organization, Behzadi will drive the usage and adoption of AI and cutting-edge technology to enhance its product offerings and roadmap to deliver hyper-personalized experiences for sports fans. Additionally, his extensive experience in leading initiatives aimed at improving internal operational efficiency will help optimize processes and drive innovation across the business.

Koerl said: “We are proud to welcome Behshad, a world-renowned leader in harnessing generative AI and other advanced technologies, who marries a unique blend of technical expertise and business acumen. His proven track record in developing and commercializing product strategies to accelerate growth and innovation, as well as spearheading initiatives aimed at improving internal operational efficiency, will bolster our leadership position, keeping Sportradar at the forefront of technological advancement.”

With more than 20 years of experience, Behzadi is a distinguished computer scientist and recognized global technology leader with expertise in algorithms, search ranking, natural language processing, speech recognition, machine learning and generative AI.