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 may25 Las Vegas Sands (LVS) Chairman and CEO Robert Goldstein has bemoaned the lingering impact of the US-China trade war, as well as increased domestic and regional competition and the rise of online gambling across Asia for sustained flatness in the Macau market. Goldstein also expressed a desire to improve the performance of his company’s Macau subsidiary, Sands China, which he said had not lived up to recent expectations  not lived up to recent expectations despite those expectations being dampened due to a raft of substantial renovation projects that have limited its hotel room supply. The long-time LVS executive was speaking at Bernstein’s 41st Annual Strategic Decisions Conference where he observed that one of the main challenges facing the Macau land-based gaming market in 2025 was falling spend per customer – a trend he attributed to a series of macro factors. “Spend is different than it used to be,” Goldstein said. “Visitation used to be equivalent to the spend but ...

 may25 T he  non-gaming investment plans for 2023 by the city’s six gaming concessionaires generated over MOP30 billion in gross production value for Macau’s economy, according to Secretary for Economy and Finance Anton Tai Kin Ip. In a plenary session of the Legislative Assembly (AL) yesterday, lawmaker Ron Lam presented an oral inquiry urging the government to strengthen supervision of non-gaming investment plans by gaming concessionaires and implement robust employee protection measures for their workforce. In response, the Secretary emphasized that the government has consistently maintained clear mechanisms for monitoring both the pre-implementation and post-implementation phases. “The [gaming concession] contract terms also require approved companies to submit detailed annual project implementation reports to the government, which must include information on the specific implementation status, amounts invested, timelines, and outcomes,” he said. While acknowledging that t...

out25  luxury segment The average hotel room rate in Macau declined for a third consecutive month in August, driven by a continued slide in prices at five-star properties, even as mid-tier hotels posted gains. According to the latest data from the Macau Hotel Association, published by the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), the city’s average hotel room rate dipped 0.4 percent year-on-year to MOP1,461.3 (US$182.1) in August. The softness was most pronounced in the luxury segment. The five-star hotel rate fell 1.9 percent from a year earlier to MOP1,615.5, marking the 14th consecutive monthly decline since June 2024. In contrast, the average price of four-star hotels rose 1.8 percent year-on-year to MOP1,230.9 in August, while three-star properties saw a 2 percent drop with the average nightly rate falling to MOP1,015.8. Driven by a surge in tourist arrivals, hotel occupancy in Macau remained strong in August, averaging 96.6 percent across the three hotel categories, up 0.4 perc...

fev26 OPINION – Baccarat reimagined By  Ryan Ho Macau Business magazine l  February 2026 As Macau’s gaming industry continues to evolve, smart table technology has emerged as a symbol of forward-thinking innovation. Beyond improving game accuracy, this advancement allows casino operators to efficiently introduce new features while maintaining the essence of traditional gameplay. This is especially important in a market where veteran players value familiarity and flow, and where innovation must not come at the expense of the core experience. Take baccarat, for example. Side bets like “Lucky 6” and “Lucky 7” have gained popularity due to their eye-catching payouts. These options offer added excitement but come with a higher house advantage compared to traditional bets (see Table). Casinos have cleverly tapped into the rising appeal of these side bets, turning player enthusiasm into increased revenue. Still, with innovation comes responsibility. Striking the right balance be...