Asia
MGM China Reports 2023 Annual Results
MGM China Holdings Limited has announced the selected unaudited financial data of the Company and its subsidiaries (the Group) for the three and 12 months ended December 31, 2023.
The Group saw a solid recovery in Macau since the market reopened in the beginning of last year. Macau saw average daily visitor arrival for 2023, up by 395% from 2022 to 77,296, recovered to 72% of 2019 pre-COVID levels.
Visitation has boosted the growth of gross gaming revenue (GGR). Industry GGR recorded sequential growth over the quarters last year to reach MOP502 million per day in 2023, recovered to 63% of 2019.
- MGM China saw record-high performance across segments last year and continued to outperform industry recovery. Property visitation in 2023 was 106% of 2019. Daily GGR was 101% of 2019 and mass GGR (including slot) was 134% of pre-COVID levels.
- Net revenue of the Group grew by 369% from 2022 to HK$24.7 billion, or 108% of 2019.
- The Group saw adjusted EBITDA turnaround from 2022 to historical high of HK$7.2 billion, represented 117% of 2019.
- MGM China had market share of 15.2% for year 2023, up from 9.5% in 2019. MGM COTAI market share was 8.6% and MGM Macau was 6.6%.
- Adjusted EBITDA margin for the year 29.3%, 210 basis points higher than 2019, with a mass-focused business and continuous improvement in operational efficiency.
- On a quarterly basis, the Group recorded sequential growth for four consecutive quarters over daily GGR, mass GGR and Adjusted EBITDA. Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was up 16% from previously to HK$2.2 billion, with adjusted EBITDA margin of 28.5%.
- The Group maintained a healthy financial position. As of December 31, 2023, the Group had a total liquidity of approximately HK$21.5 billion, comprises cash, cash equivalents and undrawn revolver.
The Group saw business volumes continued to grow in January. Market daily GGR further grew 4% from December to MOP624 million, implying a year-on-year growth of 67%, and 78% recovery of January 2019.
Kenneth Feng, President and Executive Director of MGM China, said: “We are excited about the recovery in Macau and our outperformance across various business segments.
“We will continue to innovate our products and services to enhance customer experience. We are also committed to bringing in more unique integrated tourism experiences to attract international visitors.”
During the year, MGM China has expanded overseas offices in Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Seoul and Osaka. The Group had also held flagship entertainment and gastronomy events including MGM x RR1 Culinary Masters Macau, MGM Chef Nic Gastronomusic Fest and Oktoberfest Macau at MGM, which drew both local and international visitors.
As a supporter of cultural tourism, MGM again collaborated with world-renowned Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos to present a large-scale art installation Valkyrie Miss Dior at MGM COTAI. On the art front, the Group presented at MGM Theatre To Infinity and Beyond: The Art of Hsiao Chin, an unprecedented large-scale immersive exhibition as part of Art Macao, a city-wide international event organised by the Macao SAR government. The Group has also announced the collaboration with Poly Culture Group to build a cutting-edge arts and culture museum at MGM MACAU.
In addition, MGM China is determined to bring in world-class events to Macau. The Group has organised MGM Macau Tennis Masters tournament with IMG featuring top international tennis players at the Macao East Asia Games Dome. The Group has also joined hand with the Macao Cultural Affairs Bureau to organise hush! Beach Concerts x Urban Yo~ga Wellfest, a multi-disciplinary festival which marks the debut of MGM’s wellness IP Programme that integrates tourism, health and music industries along the natural coastal Hac Sá Beach in Macau.
“We strive to develop MGM as a destination for visitors and customers, along with the diversification development of Macau. We are devoted in developing Macau into a global and diversified tourist destination through our concession commitments,” Kenneth Feng said.
Citing risks posed by Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) operations in the country, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. 74 imposing an immediate ban on offshore and internet gaming in the country.
In issuing the EO 74, President Marcos said “the State has the paramount duty to safeguard national security, maintain public order, uphold the rule of law, protect the safety of its citizens, and ensure the integrity of the social fabric of the nation.”
“…In pursuit of such duty, an unequivocal ban of POGO/IGL operations was pronounced during the State of the Nation Address on 22 July 2024.”
The EO cited the Department of Finance (DOF) study in saying that POGO activities significantly outweigh the economic and social benefits derived from the POGO industry because of the risks and negative consequences such as increased crime rates, social instability and exploitation of vulnerable people associated with them.
The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Report also indicated POGOs have been identified as susceptible to money laundering, fraud and other illicit financial activities, and therefore pose substantial threats to the integrity of the national financial system.
“The high reputational risks associated with POGO/IGL operations deter foreign investment and tourism, undermining the efforts of the National Government in promoting the country as a safe and sustainable investment and tourism destination,” the EO stated.
The President’s order, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Nov. 5, will cover Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators and Offshore Gaming Operations and Services.
All POGOs/IGLs and other offshore gaming operations and other offshore gaming-related/auxiliary/ancillary services with issued licenses, permits are expected to completely cease operations, including the winding up of their affairs, on December 31, 2024 or earlier.
And to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy, Technical Working Groups (TWGs) will be created. The TWG on Employment Recovery and Reintegration will address the impact of the foregoing ban on the affected sectors of the economy and ensure the reintegration of displaced Filipino workers.
This will also involve the provision of assistance and safety nets which include upskilling and reskilling programmes to ensure displaced workers could find new jobs.
The President also issued directives to national government agencies in response to the immediate POGO operations prohibition.
He wants the Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission (PAOCC), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and other law enforcement agencies to intensify their efforts against illegal POGOs/GLs and other offshore gaming operations and services.
The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) was instructed to assist the TWG on Anti-Illegal Offshore Gaming Operations in securing the cooperation of homeowners associations to ensure the non-proliferation of POGO/IGL and other offshore gaming operations and services in subdivisions, condominiums and other real estate developments.
The post PBBM Orders Immediate Ban Against All PH POGO Operations appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
Making Indian Presence Felt: Natural8 India gears up to take a contingent of nine winners of its latest India Exclusive to Asian Poker Tour (APT) Phu Quoc!
With fully expense paid trip to the breathtaking island and a whopping INR 15 lakh in additional benefits, the winners will compete with Asia’s best poker players for the ultimate prize in the Main and Mini Main Events
Underlining its commitment to establishing India’s competitive poker scene on a global stage, Natural8 India is taking a massive contingent of nine players on an all-expenses paid trip to compete at the Asian Poker Tour (APT) Phu Quoc. In doing so, these nine players – Kishore Kumar V C, Romit Advani, Akhand Shukla, Myron Pereira, Pranav Khandalkar, Arindam Nayak, Anurag Rawat, Rasik Bhatia, and Harsh Bharti – will have a shot at winning the ultimate prize at the Main Event: the APT Trophy and the Main Event prize pool!
To facilitate this, Natural8 India has offered bonuses worth a whopping INR 15 lakh to the nine winners of its latest India Exclusive. In addition to travel and accommodation (worth around INR 85,000 per head) to all players, it has also offered the top four players a chance to compete at the main table with Main Event tickets worth INR 1,23,905 each while the other five players are set to compete at the Mini Main Event with tickets worth INR 41,301 each.
Speaking at the announcement, Kunal Patni, Executive Director and Country Head, Natural8 India, said, “The Indian competitive poker community is rapidly establishing itself as a thriving space and actively challenging the top players, whether in Asia or a global stage. At Natural8 India, we are proud to be driving this shift with events such as our India Exclusives, where we uncover the next wave of talented competitive poker players and give them a chance to shine at the grandest stages. It is inspiring to witness the energy at these tables, with both seasoned players and fresh talent coming together to elevate the game. We’re eagerly anticipating more intense showdowns at the APT Phu Quoc as our contingent takes on the best poker players from across Asia. We wish all the participants the very best!”
The post Making Indian Presence Felt: Natural8 India gears up to take a contingent of nine winners of its latest India Exclusive to Asian Poker Tour (APT) Phu Quoc! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Lui Che Woo, the casino tycoon who helped propel Macau to eclipse rival Las Vegas in gambling revenues, has died at the age of 95, his company said in a statement late on Monday.
Lui, chairman of Macau casino company Galaxy Entertainment, died in Hong Kong on Nov. 7, it said, adding that his “vision, tremendous leadership and guidance” were the foundation for the group’s development and continued success.
Also the chairman of K. Wah Group, a Hong Kong-listed company focused on construction and quarry mining before turning to property, Lui was widely recognised in both Hong Kong and Macau as an influential businessman with close ties to the Chinese government.
One of Hong Kong’s richest men, Lui kept a low profile and was always seen wearing a flat cap as he went about the city and when he attended press conferences.
A member of China’s national advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Lui had close ties to Beijing and was part of a business delegation that met with President Xi Jinping in 2014 in China’s capital.
Galaxy Entertainment holds one of six coveted gaming licenses that were granted after Macau liberalised the casino industry in 2002.
Competing with rivals like the now deceased Stanley Ho, whose family runs the SJM Holdings casino empire, the late U.S. billionaire Sheldon Adelson and Wynn Resorts founder Steve Wynn, Lui steered Galaxy to become of Macau’s top operators.
It operates several large casino resorts in Macau, both on the Las Vegas-style Cotai strip and on the teeming main peninsula.
The post Hong Kong Construction Titan Turned Macau Casino Boss Lui Che-Woo Dies Aged 95 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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