With Macau Slot Co losing its exclusivity in sports betting, analysts believe casinos could diversify their gaming offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Macau.- Analysts believe casino operators could boost GGR by offering sportsbooks<\/strong> after Macau Slot Co<\/a> renewed its concession\u00a0<\/strong>without exclusive rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wang Changbin, director of the Centre for Gaming and Tourism Studies at Macao Polytechnic Institute, noted that non-exclusive renewal of Macau Slot’s licence could be a \u201csignal that\u00a0more operators might be allowed into the sports betting market in Macau<\/strong>\u00a0in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gaming consultant David Green<\/strong> said that sportsbooks would have the benefit of\u00a0encouraging people to stay at casinos for longer\u00a0<\/strong>since the outcome of events is not determined for at least a couple of hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He: \u201cI think it is a good move. The\u00a0Macau Slot concession only related to football and basketball<\/strong>\u00a0which, while popular, are not the only sports betting propositions that people are interested in.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The move would require amendments to Macau gambling law\u00a0<\/strong>as it currently prohibits pari-mutuel gaming from taking place in casinos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2020, Macau Slot reported GGR down 27 per cent year-on-year <\/strong>to nearly MOP$543m (US$67.8m) due to the Covid-19 pandemic. That\u2019s the lowest number in at least five years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2019, the instant lottery and sports betting concessionaire<\/a> reported net profits of MOP154.8m (US$19.3m)<\/strong>, a 30 per cent drop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Macau\u2019s current casino licences\u00a0<\/strong>are due to\u00a0expire in June 2022<\/strong>. Experts and legislators have suggested that Macau should add requirements for operators to invest in\u00a0the diversification of Macau\u2019s economy<\/strong>, which is highly dependent on the tourism sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Legislator Ella Lei Cheng I<\/a> also said that legislators suggested the government conduct an assessment on how Macau\u2019s gaming companies have exercised their contracts<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Macau\u2019s GGR<\/a> reached MOP10.45bn (US$1.31bn)<\/strong> in May. That\u2019s an increase of 24.3 per cent from April, when GGR was MOP10.4bn (US$1.3bn)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n