Macau’s Gaming Inspection, and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) sprang a surprise over the weekend when Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lionel Leong Vai Tac, revealed the Parisian would receive just 100 new gaming tables when it opens for business on 13 September.
Just like Wynn Palace, which opened on 22 August, the Parisian will receive another 25 tables on 1 January 2017 and 25 more on 1 January 2018 for a total allocation of 150.
Unlike its luxurious new neighbor however, the news came as quite a shock given Sands China has historically been the most successful of Macau’s concessionaires in terms of non-gaming revenue. With all six concessionaires opening integrated resorts in Cotai between 2015 and 2018, the DICJ has repeatedly stated that table allocations would be based on how well each property fulfils the government’s diversification requirements.
Given its obvious mass market focus – with a replica Eiffel Tower, water park, French theme and 3,000 hotel rooms, the common assumption was that the Parisian would receive the same quota of 250 tables granted to both Galaxy Phase 2 and Studio City last year. Instead, it seems the goal posts have shifted.
It also serves as a warning to fellow concessionaires MGM and SJM who are due to open their own Cotai properties in 2017 and 2018 respectively. Only last month, MGM China boss Grant Bowie said MGM Cotai would open with mass tables only, stating, “It has been built to cater to up to 500 tables, but clearly as we now see the market is changing and we have to adapt to those changes.
“I’m very positive that our property in Cotai will be given sufficient tables to cater to the customers that we need and we are going to be successful.”
