THE MACAU METRO MONITOR, JANUARY 17, 2014
GAMING TABLES/SLOTS DICJ
At the end of 4Q, Macau gaming tables was 2 tables higher QoQ to 5,750. Slot count declined by 1,669 machines QoQ to 13,106.
I'M NO 'TOUGH COP' SAYS BEIJING'S NEW MAN IN MACAU Macau Business Daily
Li Gang, the new Macau rep from China, took the opportunity to reassure listeners that he was not a ‘tough cop’ focused on some clampdown on the local casino industry, and also that there would be no ‘blind expansion’ of tourism to Macau.
“My role as a [discipline] commission member is to participate in the anti-corruption works in mainland China, and that does not have to do with the local gaming industry,” he added.
Li also said Beijing has no plans currently to expand the existing individual visit scheme allowing mainland residents from select cities to travel independently to Macau. “Last year, there were 28 million mainland visitors coming here under the individual visit scheme,” Mr Li said on the sidelines of a cocktail reception for Chinese New Year. He added: “This number could exceed 30 million this year.”
MACAU LEGEND FALLS ON $174 MILLION STOCK SALE Bloomberg
Macau Legend Development said it raised about HK$1.35 billion (US$174 million) selling new shares, less than previously planned of US$300 million. The company sold shares equal to about 2.9% of its enlarged share capital at HK$7.25 each to fund its proposed redevelopment of Fisherman’s Wharf casino complex in Macau. Fisherman’s Wharf will focus more on mass-market gamblers instead of high-stakes bettors.
TRADING OF BLOOMBERRY STOCK HALTED AFTER GGAM EXIT Macau Business
Bloomberry Resorts Corp, who operates Manila’s Solaire Resort and Casino, was suspended at the Philippine Stock Exchange after Global Gaming Asset Management LLC sold its 8.7% stake in the company. Bloomberry told the exchange it had asked for trading to be suspended until next Thursday. Bloomberry said it needed to confirm that the buyers of the shares would be unaffected by arbitration proceedings meant to settle its dispute with GGAM.
Bloomberry ended its management agreement with GGAM in September, saying GGAM had failed to manage the Solaire casino-resort. GGAM objected and asked arbitrators in Singapore to settle the argument.
GOVT SAYS LRT TAIPA SECTION SLATED TO BE READY IN 2016 Macau News
Transportation Infrastructure Office (GIT) Director Lei Chan Tong said that the government was doing its best to ensure that the Taipa section of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) is in operation in 2016. Lei said the Taipa section should be completed by late 2015 or early 2016, after which the trains would make trial runs until the system’s official opening.
