Macau’s thriving gambling market continues to pick up steam despite the government’s crackdown on China’s gambling industry. With the best casinos and constant gambling options, Macau is one of the most favored entertainment venues in the world, especially for visitors from mainland China. Macau is home to six major casino operators, including MGM China Holdings, which often dominate headlines. 슬롯머신
It’s no secret that MGM China is seeking a major push into the Cotai Strip. MGM Cotai, worth HK$27 billion, is Macau’s second casino venture that was expected to open in 2016. But the company behind the ambitious casino project needed to delay the grand opening of its new gambling property to a later date due to several construction delays. Earlier this month, MGM China announced it would open its gambling property on January 13, but it did not initially announce it.
But the hailstones in question for MGM Resorts’ new integrated resort in Macau’s Kotai region are likely to continue. Yesterday, Maria Helena de Sena Fernandez, director of the MGM Kotai Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), announced that MGM Kotai is still withholding permission to operate the hotel. She added that the tourism bureau cannot promise to get permission ahead of the Chinese New Year, which falls on January 16 this year.
Sena Fernandez explained that MGM Kotai also needs to get approval from other agencies to operate a five-star hotel, which could take a little longer. Last Friday, Sena Fernandez told casino news outlet GGRASIA that the tourism bureau has yet to issue a hotel operating permit. The casino operator has not approved the official opening date of the gambling property.
MGM Kotai’s Jagged Opening Road
According to Morgan Stanley analysts, MGM Kotai’s opening may be delayed, the number of tables may be smaller than other integrated resorts in Kotai, which recently opened, and the room size may be smaller. Last week, Macau’s Economy and Finance Minister Lionel Leung Baitack announced that the gambling company was authorized to add 100 new game tables for operations for the opening of a multi-billion casino.
On January 1, next year, MGM China will be able to add 25 new market live dealer gaming tables. The game inspector also allowed MGM China to move 77 tables from MGM Macau to MGM Cotai. This means MGM Cotai will open with up to 177 mass tables.
The latest news about the delayed casino license will be another serious blow to the property’s profitability.