Your Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: Melco and Galaxy turn upbeat on Macau recovery

Good morning.

Both Melco Resorts and Galaxy Entertainment have reported their fourth quarter results in the past 24 hours, and both of them paint a fairly optimistic picture of Macau’s recovery from the pandemic slump. In that connection, we also look this morning at some analysis by Colliers International, which sees Macau’s GGR recovery being driven by premium mass, while Cambodia’s recovery being driven by its VIP segment. However, in South Korea, Paradise Co. also reported its results and, in that market, rosy visions of a at this juncture. Finally, in a weekly Face To Face video interview, we speak with Jennifer Song of Morningstar to take a closer look at the Chinese New Year figures and much more.

First, the news

Melco/Galaxy turn EBITDA positive, upbeat on recovery
Success Universes warns of 2020 loss due to Ponte 16 impact
China reopens visa system for Macau foreign residents
Paradise Co. company losses in 2020 reach US$97.8 million
Macau, Cambodia to lead gaming recovery: Colliers
APAC tourism to pick up in H2, but will remain low: Fitch
IPI won’t contest CNMI casino license suspension
RWM COO showcases 2.0 expansion in video
Lawrence Ho still sees Japan as “best potential new gaming market”
Okura Holdings posts 84% drop in H2 profit
Residents lose legal case to prevent Yokohama IR construction
Sihanoukville’s Jin Bei closed after Covid case
Ainsworth interim revenue drops 33%, loss widens
BetMakers sees July-December 2020 revenues up 88%
Canberra Labor Club pokie revenues down 28%

What you need to know

Melco/Galaxy turn EBITDA positive, upbeat on recovery

The last two of Macau’s operators released Q4 results on Thursday, with both returning to profit at the EBITDA-level and expressing confidence in the market recovery. Melco Resorts & Entertainment Chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho said that for the first time in 12 months he sees more positives than negatives. Ho, who described himself as having been a “debbie downer” in the past, said he thinks the market has turned a corner and will feel the full benefit of pent up demand from mid-to-late March.

Macau, Cambodia to lead gaming recovery: Colliers

Macau GGR recovery will be driven by premium mass, whilst Cambodia’s recovery will be driven by the VIP segment, according to analysts at Colliers International. Govinda Singh, executive director & head of hotels & leisure for Colliers International wrote in a report that most of the recovery will be seen around Q3 of 2021, with Macau GGR reaching 50-60 percent of 2019 levels, whilst Cambodia GGR reaching 60 percent of 2019 levels.

Paradise Co. company losses in 2020 reach US$97.8 million

Paradise Co. has reported its fourth-quarter and full-year financial results for the year 2020, recording full-year net losses on its controlling interest of KRW109.8 billion (US$97.8 million). Annual sales at Paradise came in at KRW454.4 billion, which represented a 53.6 percent fall from the previous year, before the onset of the pandemic.

Insights

FACE TO FACE

Jennifer Song: Reasons for optimism after CNY

Jennifer Song, equity analyst with Morningstar, speaks with Asia Gaming Brief managing editor Sharon Singleton about visitation to Macau during the recent Chinese New Year period and the outlook for recovery. The longer-than-usual May holiday may be a key catalyst for growth.