The Macau Metro Monitor, January 2, 2013
MONTHLY GROSS REVENUE FROM GAMES OF FORTUNE DSEC
Macau gross gaming revenue grew 19.6% YoY in December to MOP 28.25 billion (HKD 27.42, USD 3.54), a new monthly record (previous record: MOP 27.7 billion in October 2012). For 2012, GGR was MOP 304.14 billion (HKD 295.28, USD 38.10), up 13.5% YoY.
OVER 40 CASINO SMOKERS FINED ON FIRST Macau Business
According to the Health Bureau, a total of 42 casino visitors were fined MOP400 (US$50) each, for smoking in non-designated areas in the first 19 hours after the new partial ban on smoking inside casinos was enacted.
All of Macau’s 44 gaming venues, including casinos and slot machine parlours, have obtained permission to set up smoking areas from January 1. However, parts of the smoking areas in seven casinos – Lisboa, Kam Pek, Casa Real, The Legend Club, Grand Lisboa, Sands Cotai Central and MGM Macau – were not ready when the ban on smoking was enacted.
The Health Bureau says that some of the larger casinos have more than one smoking area.
MACAU LEGEND PLANS HK$800 MILLION IPO: REPORT Macau Business
Macau Legend Development Ltd is planning an IPO in Hong Kong in the 2Q of 2013. The news was broken by Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily, which cited an unidentified person as saying the company is planning to soon submit its listing documents.
Macau Legend reportedly hired brokerage firm CLSA to arrange the offering of HK$800 million (US$103 million). The company is controlled by businessman David Chow Kam Fai and is a result of a merger between Landmark Macau, Pharaoh’s Palace Casino and Macau Fisherman’s Wharf.
SINGAPORE AVOIDS RECESSION WITH Q4 GROWTH Channel News Asia
S'pore 4Q GDP grew a seasonally adjusted annualized 1.8% (+1.1% YoY), surprising economists who were expecting a decline following PM Lee's comments on Monday. 2012 GDP came in 1.2% higher QoQ and YoY. Weakness in the manufacturing sector was a major drag for the economy, but a resilient services sector took up some of the slack.
PRIVATE HOME PRICES UP 1.8% ON-QUARTER IN Q4 2012 Channel News Asia
Prices of private homes in Singapore rose to new record highs in the fourth quarter, mainly because of strong demand in the suburban areas.
Preliminary data released by the Urban Redevelopment Authority showed the private residential property price index rose 1.8% to a record 211.9 points in the October-to-December period from the previous three months.