Amidst strong competition from Sands China Ltd, SJM Holdings used every last bit of revenue it generated from its 20 casinos in Macau to hold off its surging rival in casino revenue shares in Macau last September.
A month after Sands closed the gap on SJM, the latter received some much needed breathing room in September when it accounted for 25 percent (MOP7.24 billion) of the gambling destination’s MOP28.6 billion gross casino revenue for the month.
Meanwhile, Sands China saw its share drop by one percent to 22 percent (MOP6.37 billion), losing some ground to SJM yet still comfortably ahead of perennial third placer Galaxy Entertainment, which saw its share rise two percentage points to 19 percent (MOP5.5 billion).
Still a ways away from challenging SJM, Sands, and Galaxy Entertainment are the three bottom placers, led by Melco Crown Entertainment at 14 percent (MOP4.05 billion), the same number it had a month ago. Wynn Macau Ltd continues to hold off MGM China Holdings for the inglorious status of bottom feeder, accounting for 11 percent (MOP3.18 billion) of Macau’s September totals, one percentage point better than last month’s numbers.
As expected, MGM China still ranks last among the six casino operators, raking in just 10 percent (MOP2.98 billion) of the total revenue numbers for the month.
SJM CEO reiterates call for total smoking ban
SJM Holdings CEO Ambrose So’s call for concession to exempt his aging casinos from the smoking ban is expected to fall on deaf ears. So he reiterated his Plan B stance on the issue recently, calling for a total ban on smoking in all of Macau’s casinos.
Talking to the Business Daily during the recent National Day celebrations, Ho voiced his support of a total smoking ban in Macau casinos while admitting that some of the 16 casinos that were flagged last month for poor air quality belonged to his company.
The SJM CEO has asked regulators numerous times to spare his age-old casinos from these tests because they don’t have the modern engineering to improve on these air quality regulations.
But So also readily admits that a scenario like that isn’t likely to happen anytime soon so, in an attempt to level the proverbial playing field, he’s become a huge voice in calling for a total smoking ban.
If you can’t beat them, join them, so they say.
