The Macau Metro Monitor, April 19, 2012
700 MILLION TO EXTEND PONTE 16 SHOPPING MALL Macau Daily Times
Success Universe is spending HKD 700 million to extend its shopping mall in Ponte 16, adding around 20 to 30 gaming tables to its casino, and planning an extra gaming room. Success Universe’s Deputy Chairman Hoffman Ma Ho-Man said the company would apply for a 20% increase in gaming tables which would, if approved by the authority, add around 20 to 30 new tables to the casino-hotel which currently has more than 100 tables, of which 18 are VIP.
Chairman Ho-Man believed the economic situation in the mainland, including the Government’s tightening over monetary policies, would not have much influence on their gaming business. However he expressed worry that debts would increase as credit conditions become tighter on the mainland; however, the casino would enforce stricter screening of mainland gamblers’ credit records and require mortgage from some VIP clients. In addition, they planned on opening one more
gaming room and recruiting one extra junket operator.
He expected gaming revenue growth in 2012 to be lower than last year but would maintain the double-digit level. As to the extension of the shopping mall in Ponte 16, Ho-Man said, “The works would start later this year and finish in 2014.”
CONSTRUCTION WORKS OR NOT?
According to Business Daily, around 200 workers have been hired for the Macau Studio City project. Despite what is thought to be worker accommodation being built on site, the project construction has not been restarted, said a spokesperson for Melco International Development Ltd.