February 21, 2008
There is little mention about their Macau Casinos, except on the Dec. 18 opening of the $1.25 billion MGM Grand Macau, a 50% joint venture in the Chinese gambling enclave of Macau, which had preopening and start-up expenses in the 2007 quarter of $25 million related to the preopening expenses at MGM Grand Macau. It also recently obtained funding for what Lanni called “seed money” for a second project on Macau’s Cotai Strip.
Casino giant MGM Mirage Inc. reported soaring fourth-quarter profits Thursday, including a hefty gain related to its CityCenter project under construction on the Las Vegas Strip.The world’s second-largest casino company said net income surged to $872.2 million, or $2.85 per share, in the period ending Dec. 31, compared with $201.6 million, or 69 cents per share, in the same period in 2006.
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Posted in Cotai Strip, MGM Grand Macau, MGM Grand Paradise, MGM Mirage 
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January 26, 2008
SJM, which operates 18 of Macau’s 28 casinos, has been trying to list it’s IPO with aims to raise US$1 billion by selling a 25 percent stake. SJM, which once had a monopoly on Macau gambling, accounted for 42 percent of the territory’s gaming revenue at the end of last year. This percentage is expected to drop to around 20 percent next year, apparently during the first two weeks of 2008 SJM’s share has reportedly dropped to 31 percent. On top of this profit for 2007 is expected to have fallen about 50 percent to US$156 million, down from US$312.5 million a year earlier, this surely must hurt them!
So where does this leave Dr Stanley Ho’s empire, well SJM/STDM has plans to over the next three years to spend more than US$1.4 billion on six new projects. This investment compared to what Galaxy, Melco PBL, Las Vegas Sands and Wynn are spending on their casinos is really peanuts! Please tell me more! »
Posted in Macau Business, Macau Casino, STDM | SJM, Stanley Ho No Comments »
January 13, 2008
The world famous seven-star The Plaza Hotel in New York is looking to possibly establish a Plaza branded hotel casino in Macau. This shows that Macau and the Cotai Strip are still being seriously considered by the top hotel brands. The big question remains where will all the sites be to put them?
They also have announced plans for a US$8 billion Plaza Casino in Vegas and plan to set-up in Singapore as well.
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Posted in Asia Casinos, Cotai Strip, Hotel Macau, Macau Casino, Macau Property No Comments »
January 11, 2008
Yesterday’s grand opening of the Macau International Jewellery and Watch Fair on the Cotai Strip was invaded by two purported buyers who allegedly swapped a genuine three-carat diamond with a replica.
The stall holder soon realised the switch and called the Judiciary Police who arrested the pair.
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Posted in Macau General, Macau News, Macau Trade Fairs, Social and Politics No Comments »
January 10, 2008
Investor Update Fourth Quarter 2007
Quarterly Highlights
* US$43.1 million in new acquisitions announced
* 101% of Company’s equity now committed
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Posted in Condominium, Design & Construction, Development, Infrastructure, Macau Business, Macau General, Macau Property, Macau Success, Social and Politics, eSun No Comments »
January 10, 2008
The first-ever Macau Jewellery and Watch Fair opened today, further proof that this former Portuguese colony is giving Las Vegas a run for its money.
Eager to capitalize on the Chinese love of gambling, American-operated casinos such as the Venetian, Wynn and MGM Grand, have opened outposts here in recent months, helping to speed the transformation of this city into the Las Vegas of the Far East, right down to the indoor canals and singing gondoliers at the $2.4 billion Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel.
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Posted in Economy & Business, Exhibition, Macau Events, Macau General, Macau Trade Fairs, Venetian Macao No Comments »
January 1, 2008
A decision to change where some of Macau’s top junket operators bring their big-spending customers could be troublesome for Las Vegas Sands Corp. and Wynn Resorts Ltd.
Ten Macau gambling representatives signed a new agreement this month to take their high rollers to the Crown Macau, which opened in May. The casino is operated by Melco PBL, a joint venture between Australian tycoon James Packer and Hong Kong businessman Lawrence Ho, son of Macau casino pioneer Stanley Ho.
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Posted in Cotai Strip, Crown Macau, Macau Casino, Venetian Macao, Wynn Macau No Comments »
December 25, 2007
As was about to happen sooner or later, the Venetian Macao has won the title of having the first murder case at its Cotai Strip Casino. The 39-year-old Mainland woman linked to the Venetian fire was established by the Judiciary Police as having been strangled. Police arrested the alleged murderer on Friday before he managed to leave Macau. The woman also died that day, two days after the fire that broke out at the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel on Wednesday.
The suspect was a 38-year-old surnamed Tan who traveled to Macau from China’s Zhuhai city on a Chinese pass on December 12. The Mainland man had already admitted to police that he had murdered the woman in the hotel room as he was unable to repay a US$25,000(200,000 Pataca) loan after gambling the money away, police spokesman Choi Iat Peng said.
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Posted in Cotai Strip, Macau General, Macau News, Social and Politics, Venetian Macao No Comments »
