The first day of the month means it’s that time again – to celebrate Macau’s gaming industry breaking more records than Usain Bolt. July was no exception as the Chinese gambling enclave saw gross gaming revenue up 48% compared with the same month last year. Crunching the numbers shows that the figure was MOP24.2bn (US$3bn). It means, according to Macau’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, that it’s the enclave’s second-best month ever. Bravo, bravo.
Giving July second place detracts from how remarkable this is. You see the gold medalist here, May, had help from the holiday season and the opening of the Galaxy Macau venue. July had no such luck.
Even though Macau’s monthly revenue fan-fare is as regular as a clock striking 12, they are always looking to improve. Infrastructure is regularly cited as one of the improvements that could be made and the introduction of a revamped bus service could do much to improve its fortunes. A third operator – Reolian – joins the two incumbents, Transmac and TMC. The enclave is obviously hoping that the phrase “more competition = better service” rings true here.
Between the three of them they’ll receive MOP4.7bn (US$588m) over the next seven years in government subsidies. New operator Reolian will run 26 routes, Transmac 21 and TCM 13.
Charity is something that the gaming industry as a whole supports wholeheartedly – this is no exception when it comes to Macau’s burgeoning casino industry. Since 2004, Sands China has given support to over 130 different projects across the community amounting to cash donations of MOP43m (US$5.25m). It was also the second anniversary of the Sands China Care Ambassador Program last week and it has mushroomed since its formation. There are now 362 volunteers, up from 120 at launch, that have performed more than 1,600 hours of community service.
