Revenues continued their downturn in Macau in June, when the city's casinos posted declines of more than 17 percent from the previous June. The decline escalated in June from the 10.2 percent slide in May, even though Melco Crown's City of Dreams debuted on June 1 and reportedly attracted more than 1 million people.

Revenues for the first half of 2009 were down 12 percent from 2008, with the second quarter seeing an even steeper decline than earlier in the year. According to the Macau government, casinos won US$7.43 billion in the first six months of '09.

SJM, the company controlled by Stanley Ho, which controls 19 of the city's 32 casinos, achieved a 30 percent market share, while the properties operated by Las Vegas Sands-Sands Macao, Venetian Macao and the Four Seasons-took second with 26 percent. The other operators were farther back: Wynn Resorts (14 percent), Galaxy Entertainment (12 percent), Melco Crown Entertainment (9 percent) and MGM Grand Paradise (8 percent).

Some attributed the steeper decline to fears of swine flu, which has all Asian countries, including Macau, screening passengers for high temperatures when they arrive.

By GGB Staff

Staff writers for Global Gaming Business magazine. Las Vegas, Nevada.