Macau Casinos : August revenues show a 40 percent improvement

August revenues show a 40 percent improvement

The addition of tables for high stakes gamblers by Macau land casino operators is at least partly attributable to another impressive rise in revenues for the month of August, reports Macau's Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau.

Gaming revenue rose 40 percent to 15.8 billion patacas ($2 billion) in August, with the six operators in the gambling enclave reporting soaring revenues up 63 percent from a year earlier to 117.9 billion patacas in the eight months to end-August.

"A slight moderation in the growth momentum of Macau's gross casino revenue would probably be a healthy thing at this point," independent industry consultant Jonathan Galaviz opined. A significant real-estate market downturn is likely on the mainland, and its ultimate effect on Macau would be pronounced, he added.

SJM said revenue from VIP gamblers more than doubled in the first half of 2010. Wynn Macau, the Hong Kong-listed unit of Wynn Resorts Inc, said revenue from high rollers rose 80 percent in the same period.