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Low hold in Singapore and construction at Londoner drive down Las Vegas Sands 3Q24 results

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“Lower than expected hold in Singapore and the impact of disruption from […] ongoing development work at the Londoner” brought down Las Vegas Sands’ results in the third quarter, according to its most recent financials.

The group saw annual drops in most of its Macau properties, except for Parisian and The Plaza and Four Seasons, while revenue from Marina Bay Sands also retracted slightly.

Overall casino revenue group-wide still totaled $1.93 billion, down by 3.6 percent yearly, while overall group net revenue hit $2.68 billion, a 4 percent drop.

Net income for the group totaled just $353 million, compared to $449 million in 3Q23, while consolidated property EBITDA fell to $991 million, from $1.12 billion in 3Q23.

During the quarter, revenues from The Venetian contracted by 4.3 percent – to $692 million. The Londoner similarly experienced a decline, attributed to ongoing construction, with a yearly drop of 11.2 percent to $460 million, a scenario predicted by analysts at the beginning of the quarter.

However, the group’s Parisian venue saw a slight uptick in revenue, to $250 million from $244 million in 3Q24. In comparison, The Plaza and Four Seasons saw a sharp increase to $257 million versus $192 million in 3Q23.


Sands Macau
Sands Macao

Sands Macau continued to be the smallest Macau contributor, at $81 million, down from $83 million in 3Q23.

Marina Bay Sands contributed some $919 million in revenue during the quarter, down from $1.01 billion in the same quarter of last year.

Marina Bay Sands
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Rolling chip volume at The Venetian increased in 3Q24 – to $1.12 billion from $853 million in 3Q23, while hotel occupancy topped out at 98.8 percent. Casino revenue was down by $21 million yearly, to $554 million.

The Londoner was the second-largest gaming revenue contributor for Macau – at $338 million, down by $33 million for the same quarter of last year. Room revenue however contracted by nearly 30 percent, despite maintaining 97.7 percent occupancy. Rolling chip fell by $13 million, to $1.54 billion.

The Parisian Macao
The Parisian Macao

The Parisian saw casino revenue rise by $8 million yearly, hitting $189 million, while room revenue was largely flat, with hotel occupancy at 98.5 percent. Rolling chip at the property was just $169 million, down by $108 million from 3Q23.

The Plaza and Four Seasons benefited from strong rolling chip volumes, up by 26.5 percent yearly, to $2.61 billion, however, casino revenue totaled just $182 million – still a $74 million increase from 3Q23. Hotel occupancy tapped out at 93.2 percent.

Sands Macau saw a dismal $26 million in rolling chip volume, still up by $12 million yearly, with casino revenue hitting $73 million, up by just $2 million yearly. Hotel occupancy was 99.4 percent.

Marina Bay Sands saw the best rolling chip volume of LVS’ properties – at $6.55 billion – still a drop of $1.59 billion from the same quarter of last year. This drove casino revenue to $600 million, from $698 million in 3Q23. Hotel occupancy fell slightly, to 94.7 percent.

Robert Goldstein, Las Vegas Sands
Robert Goldstein, CEO, Las Vegas Sands

Speaking of the results, Robert Goldstein, Chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands, noted “Our financial strength and industry-leading cash flow continue to support our ongoing investment and capital expenditure programs in both Macau and Singapore, our pursuit of growth opportunities in new markets and our program to return excess capital to stockholders”.

Indian Government targets influencers over gambling promotions

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The Indian government is intensifying its crackdown on social media influencers promoting online gambling.

The move marks a significant step in curbing unregulated betting activities across the country. The online gambling market in India has grown rapidly, with its value reaching an estimated $2.7 billion in 2023, and influencers have played a key role in promoting these platforms.

To protect vulnerable consumers, especially the youth, authorities have begun issuing warnings and pursuing legal action against those who advertise online betting sites. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has made it clear that promoting gambling websites is a violation of Indian law, as many of these platforms operate without proper regulation. Recently, legal cases have been filed against influencers who market these services on popular platforms like Instagram and YouTube.

India Gambling Tax Estimate 2024

Many gambling operators use enticing offers such as no deposit free spins to attract users, often highlighted on India-focused affiliate websites. These promotions can lure consumers into engaging with gambling platforms without fully understanding the risks, a practice that authorities are determined to curb.

Influencers have become a crucial marketing tool for online gambling platforms, promoting games like poker, rummy, and other betting activities to their large followings. These promotions often paint a glamorous picture of gambling, emphasizing potential cash rewards while downplaying the risks of addiction and financial losses. This has made it easier for online gambling sites to penetrate the market, especially during peak seasons like the cricket season, when betting activities are expected to surge.

In response, the MIB has issued advisories warning influencers against promoting offshore gambling sites. These advisories emphasize that such activities are illegal under the local Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules of 2021. Influencers who continue to promote these platforms face the risk of severe penalties, including substantial fines and even jail time.

Tamil Nadu

States like Tamil Nadu have taken a particularly strong stance against these promotions. The Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (TNOGA) has issued show-cause notices to influencers involved in promoting gambling platforms. Violators can face high fines or imprisonment for up to three years, signaling a serious intent to enforce the law.

Social media platforms themselves have also come under scrutiny. The Indian government has called on these platforms to enhance their content moderation policies, urging them to detect and remove gambling-related promotions more effectively. Additionally, there is a push for platforms to educate users about the dangers of gambling addiction, further tightening the noose around unregulated gambling promotions.

The rise of influencer-promoted gambling content raises broader concerns about its impact on society. Gambling addiction can lead to severe financial strain, damaged relationships, and significant mental health challenges, particularly among younger audiences who are more susceptible to the influence of online personalities. Critics argue that influencers often fail to highlight these risks, creating a misleading narrative around the ease of winning in online betting.

This crackdown is part of a larger effort by the Indian government to regulate online content that could harm public welfare. As legal actions against influencers and their platforms gain traction, the digital landscape for online gambling promotion is undergoing rapid change. The tighter regulations mean that influencers and social media companies must navigate a complex legal environment or face harsh repercussions.

Eight foreign nationals linked to illegal POGO operations arrested in the Philippines

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A raid on two houses in Muntinlupa City led to the arrest of eight foreign nationals suspected of being involved in illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) activities.

The operation was carried out by a team from the Department of Justice, Bureau of Immigration, and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), with reports highlighting the seizure of gadgets allegedly used in various scamming activities.

Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano commented on the operation, noting that the suspects believed they could evade law enforcement by operating within gated communities. “These foreign nationals thought they could carry out their illegal activities in clandestine settings, but thanks to vigilant neighbors, there is no safe place for them anymore,” Clavano stated.

The first raid resulted in the arrest of three Chinese nationals, while a subsequent raid on a second house led to the capture of four additional Chinese suspects and a Vietnamese national. Authorities are currently investigating potential connections between the suspects and a previously raided POGO hub in Porac, Pampanga.

One of the arrested suspects, speaking through an interpreter, claimed to be a businessman with plans to open a restaurant in the Philippines. He expressed an intention to return to China if business opportunities did not materialize locally. The other detainees declined to issue any statements.

The successful operation was reportedly based on tips from concerned community members. The eight suspects are now in the custody of the NBI as authorities continue their investigation into their alleged roles in illegal POGO operations.

Former PH Senate President defends previous POGO taxation policies

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Former Philippine Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has defended the legislation that introduced taxation for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs), arguing that it did not actually legalize the industry.

Sotto, who was a guest on Inquirer’s INQside Look program on Tuesday, stated that the decision to prohibit POGOs ultimately lies with the President. He acknowledged that the current administration had allowed Pogos to operate, with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) granting permits.

“It’s up to the President. Their President should’ve stopped it. But, he allowed it. PAGCOR allowed it. They allowed it. So what did Congress do? What Congress did was: ‘Hold on. The government isn’t benefiting from that. Let’s tax it.’ We did not legalize it. We merely taxed it”, Sotto said.

The former Senate President defended Republic Act 11590, the legislation passed during his tenure, which amended the internal revenue code to tax POGOs. He argued that this measure allowed the government to identify legal and illegal operators, ultimately leading to the discovery and halting of the unlawful ones.

“The good thing is we know who is paying, who is legal and who is not. That’s why we discovered the illegal ones. So instead of criticizing Congress that approved taxing POGOs, it should be praised because now the illegal ones have been discovered and stopped”, Sotto added.

Macau visitor arrivals in September up 10%, over 2.5M

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According to the latest data from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC), Macau visitor arrivals in September reached 2,528,011, marking a 9.9 percent year-on-year growth. This figure represents a recovery rate of 91.4 percent compared to the same month in 2019.

International visitors surged by 37.6 percent year-on-year, totaling 173,614, which corresponds to 92.7 percent of September 2019 levels.

Macau-Visitor-Arrivals--September-2024
Macau Visitor Arrivals 2024

In the first three quarters of 2024, visitor arrivals soared by 30.1 percent year-on-year, totaling 25,920,914 and recovering to 85.8 percent of the figures recorded in the same period of 2019. This represents 78.5 percent of this year’s target of 33 million visitor arrivals, as projected by the city’s tourism office (MGTO).

The growth was particularly evident among same-day visitors, which increased by 42.8 percent to 13,834,674, while overnight visitors rose by 18.1 percent to 12,086,240. The average length of stay for all visitors remained at 1.2 days, with overnight visitors maintaining an average stay of 2.3 days.

International visitors so far this year have seen a remarkable rise of 95.1 percent year-on-year, reaching 1,677,550, which is 70.7 percent of the first three quarters of 2019.

Southeast Asian markets have shown robust growth, with visitors from the Philippines increasing by 75.6 percent (345,537), Indonesia by 33.6 percent (127,861), Thailand by 70.6 percent (95,108), and Singapore by 61.6 percent (74,156). Visitors from Malaysia also soared by 136.4 percent to 117,739.

Macau visitor arrivals YOY 2024
Macau visitor arrivals YOY 2024

In South Asia, the number of visitors from India surged by 133.6 percent to 77,071. Meanwhile, Northeast Asian markets reported substantial increases, with arrivals from South Korea and Japan jumping by 207 percent (341,497) and 102.6 percent (93,001), respectively. Long-haul markets also contributed positively, with visitors from the USA rising by 83.2 percent to 103,379.

Hub88 boosts platform offering with KA Gaming addition

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Hub88 has strengthened its portfolio of third-party content after adding the diverse games library from KA Gaming to its platform. 

Over 700 titles from KA Gaming are now available to Hub88’s operator partners, including slots, crash, and arcade games, as well as popular fish shooting content such as the most recent releases King Octopus and Space Cat.

The studio, founded in 2017, develops between 10 to 14 new games per month with an aim to expand the range of content even further, with a greater variety of math models and themes from different cultures set to be rolled out.

The partnership is the latest in a string of deals that have seen Hub88 further enhance its platform to include all types of gaming content to make its operator partners’ product offerings as rich as they can possibly be.

More than 120 studios now provide over 12,000 titles via Hub88’s aggregation platform to a global network of operators.

Ollie Castleman, Head of Hub88, said: “We have always been impressed with KA Gaming’s broad offering and the combination of slots and non-traditional content that they produce. This partnership ensures we further diversify our aggregation platform with titles that will appeal to a wide demographic and different player preferences.”

David Marks, Business Development Manager at KA Gaming, said: “KA literally stands for ‘Kick Ass’, and our official slogan is ‘Makers of Kick A$$ Games’. We are excited to announce our new partnership with Hub88 as this will further the global reach of our content. Together, we will leverage our combined expertise to drive innovation and deliver exceptional value to operators and players. This collaboration marks the beginning of a strong relationship, and we look forward to achieving great success together.”

Pragmatic Play teams up with Hotwin in Belgium

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Pragmatic Play, a leading content supplier to the iGaming industry, has strengthened the availability of its portfolio in Belgium, through partnership with Hotwin, Antwerp Gaming Club’s Online Division.

The partnership sees Pragmatic Play’s premium portfolio of dice slots go live via hotwin.be, with the supplier’s wide range of Slots and Live Casino titles already resonating well with players in Belgium.  

Hotwin’s customers can now enjoy dice editions of popular titles, including fan-favorites Gates of Olympus DiceSugar Rush Dice, and The Dog House Dice Show.  

Licensed by the Belgian Gaming Commission, Hotwin offers a wide range of casino games, specializing in dice games, dice slots, roulette, and blackjack titles. 

Hotwin becomes the latest Belgian partner to integrate Pragmatic Play’s award-winning content. 
 
Irina Cornides, Chief Operating Officer at Pragmatic Play, said: “We are delighted to extend our collaboration with the team at Hotwin and further the availability of our extensive product offering in Belgium, where Pragmatic Play offers a rich selection of titles to online casino operators.” 

Ali Amerian, Director of Antwerp Gaming Club, added: “Pragmatic Play’s award-winning portfolio is a great asset for any casino, and we are proud to offer their innovative dice games on our online platform. Players are always looking for new, exciting games, and adding a selection of Pragmatic Play titles will help to elevate their gaming experience at Hotwin.” 

IMF lowers Macau GDP projections for 2024/2025

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lowered its GDP growth projections for Macau, but with the expected economic performance of the city still standing out amid the the Asia-Pacific economies.

The SAR is expected to report an impressive growth of 10.6 percent in 2024, down from the 13.9 percent forecast six months ago, and 7.3 percent in 2025, down from the previous 9.6 per cent estimate.

This growth trajectory still far surpasses the average projections for Asia, which are estimated at 4.6 percent in 2024, and 4.4 percent in 2025.

According to the local government’s conservative estimate, GGR for the full year of 2024 is expected to reach MOP216 billion ($26.8 billion).

For the first nine months of 2024, Macau’s casino GGR reached MOP169.3 billion ($21 billion), up 31.3 percent from the previous year but still percent lower than the same period in 2019, which was MOP220.2 billion ($27.4 billion).

Alongside the robust GDP growth, Macau’s consumer price projections indicate a relatively stable inflationary environment, with estimates of 1.1 percent in 2024, and 2.0 percent in 2025.

Macau, Inner Harbour, MGM, redevelop, MGM China, Non-Gaming, Macau GDP

Importantly, the region’s current account balance is expected to remain strongly positive, reaching 33.2 percent in 2024, and 33.3 percent in 2025.

The employment outlook for Macau is also positive, with the unemployment rate projected to decrease from 1.8 percent in both 2024 and 2025. This decline suggests that the economic recovery is translating into job opportunities for the local population.

When compared to other major economies in the Asia-Pacific region, Macau’s performance stands out, with regional advanced economies like Japan, China Australia expected to grow at a much slower pace.

BetVictor teams up with NBA Legend Tracy McGrady

BVGroup has announced the signing of the seven-time NBA All-Star, Tracy McGrady, as its new Safer Gambling Ambassador in Canada for its flagship BetVictor brand.

Tracy McGrady
Tracy McGrady

Tracy McGrady enjoyed a glittering 16-year career in the NBA, with stops at the Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, and finally the San Antonio Spurs.

Tracy is beloved by NBA fans worldwide, but none more so than those in Toronto. During the 1999/2000 NBA season, he formed an iconic partnership with his cousin Vince Carter, leaving a lasting impression on the city and its fans. As a respected former Raptor, McGrady still enjoys the admiration of many fans across Canada.

BetVictor offers an array of tools and services to help its Canadian customers bet and play safely and responsibly, across a host of sports betting markets and online casino games.

BetVictor

Tracy McGrady commented: “I’m delighted to continue my close partnership with BVGroup and become BetVictor’s Safer Gambling Ambassador in Canada. Safer gambling is an important issue across Canada, and I look forward to helping to promote this message alongside BetVictor to encourage Canadian customers to bet and play safely and responsibly.”

Brent Almeida, CCO of BVGroup, commented: “We are thrilled to have signed Tracy McGrady to BetVictor to promote Safer Gambling. Tracy is a perfect role model, with an amazing career across 16 seasons in the NBA. Aligning with him is a perfect fit for the BetVictor brand.”

Pronet Gaming: Adapting iGaming financial strategies for the post-pandemic era

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The global pandemic brought unprecedented changes to the iGaming industry, transforming not only how we operate but also how we think about financial strategy. As we emerged from this challenging period, finance leaders in the iGaming sector needed to reassess and recalibrate their financial strategies.

Here, Naman Paropkari, Head of Finance at Pronet Gaming, offers his insights on navigating these challenges and redefining financial priorities for sustained success.

The lessons learned during the pandemic have underscored the importance of analytics, agility, and a forward-looking approach to ensure sustainable growth in a rapidly evolving landscape.

What role does data analytics play in financial decision-making today?

The pandemic accelerated digital transformation, leading to a significant increase in online gaming participation. As a result, data analytics has become an invaluable asset. In the post-pandemic world, finance teams must leverage data to inform decision-making processes. This means investing in robust analytics tools that can provide insights into player behaviour, market trends, and financial performance.

For instance, understanding customer acquisition costs and lifetime value has never been more crucial. By closely monitoring these metrics, we are in a better position to make informed decisions about marketing spend and promotional strategies. Additionally, predictive analytics can help forecast revenue streams more accurately, enabling better cash flow management.

Was there a need for companies in the industry to create new revenue streams?

The pandemic highlighted the vulnerabilities inherent in a heavily concentrated revenue model. iGaming companies that relied primarily on one type of game or market segment faced significant challenges as player preferences shifted. To mitigate this risk, diversification of revenue streams became necessary.

This might be achieved by expanding game offerings to include emerging genres, investing in new markets, and exploring complementary services such as sports betting, esports, or virtual gaming. In addition, partnerships with software providers and innovative content creators can enhance game portfolios and attract a broader audience. A diversified approach not only stabilizes income but can also position companies for long-term growth in a competitive landscape.

In what ways, if any, did the pandemic affect risk management?

As finance leaders, it’s our responsibility to ensure that our companies remain compliant while managing the associated financial risks. Establishing robust risk management frameworks is essential. The pandemic taught us the importance of conducting frequent audits and stress tests to evaluate our financial resilience in the face of potential disruptions. This comprehensive approach not only mitigates risk but is also a sustainable way to foster trust among stakeholders and customers.

Why is integrating sustainability into financial strategies increasingly important in the post-pandemic landscape?

Sustainability has emerged as a critical concern for businesses and investors alike. In the post-pandemic landscape, integrating sustainable practices into a financial strategy is not just a moral obligation but a business imperative. Companies that demonstrate a commitment to social responsibility are more likely to attract and retain customers.

From a financial perspective, incorporating sustainability into a strategy can lead to cost savings and improved operational efficiency. For example, investing in energy-efficient technologies not only reduces one’s carbon footprint but can also lower operational costs over time.

Moving forward, what is the new normal financial mindset in the industry? 

The post-pandemic world requires an agile mindset where the ability to pivot in response to market changes and player preferences is vital. This means creating a culture of innovation within our finance teams and across the organization. We must remain open to exploring new business models to engage our partners and customers. Continuous investment in technology and talent will enable us to stay ahead of industry trends and respond swiftly to emerging opportunities.