Good Morning. Dream a little dream of me. Melco’s foray into Sri Lanka, via its latest City of Dreams property, bodes well for the nation’s tourism push. A focus on high-spending punters who have refined taste buds bodes well, given the possibilities to pair gaming offerings with a luxurious tourism experience. Meanwhile, in Macau, the new Big/Small 7 baccarat side bets are exploding, as operators refine gaming floors to keep up. And in sports betting, Macau’s monopoly operator sees little threat from Hong Kong’s proposed venture into basketball betting, as its customers tend to be local.
What you need to know
- City of Dreams Sri Lanka aims to attract high-spending tourists, but must balance rules, ethics, and growth to match Macau’s path.
- Macau casinos boost revenue with Big/Small 7 baccarat side bet, enhancing hold rates and GGR amid strong August visitation.
- Macau Slot sees no immediate hit from Hong Kong’s basketball betting move, as majority of play is provided by locals.
On the radar
- Shin Hwa World loss increases in 1H25, amongst slowdown in gaming.
- Reef Casino receives updated takeover bid from Morris Group.
- LET Group loss narrows to $5.45M in 1H25.
- AGEM Index down by 0.7% m-o-m in August.
- The Star inks binding deal to sell its stake in Queen’s Wharf Brisbane: report.
- Sangwon Lee new Chief Transformation Officer for INSPIRE.
- Wynn Macau cuts average debt cost to 5% amid falling HIBOR rates.
AGB Intelligence
SRI LANKA
City of Dreams to focus on high-spending tourists
Sri Lanka has stepped into the big leagues by opening its first large-scale integrated resort. City of Dreams Sri Lanka has a strong promise to build up the nation’s reputation in the gaming arena, as long as the country establishes a clear and consistent regulatory framework, notes a hospitality expert. Coupling the gaming experience with unique tourism offerings can make the destination highly attractive, particularly for those seeking the finer things in life.
Corporate Spotlight
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