• About Us
  • The Team
  • Advertise with Us

The latest news on the gaming industry in Asia

() () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () ()
  • Home
  • Macau
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Rest of Asia
  • World
  • Features
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

Three Macau casino firms try joint shuttle buses

Jun 06, 2016 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  


Three Macau casino firms try joint shuttle buses

Macau casino companies Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd, Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd and Venetian Macau Ltd as of Monday launched – for a three-month trial period – a collective casino shuttle bus service called ‘Cotai Connection’.

The news was given in a joint press release issued by Galaxy Entertainment on Saturday.

A follow-up joint statement from the three casino firms, emailed to GGRAsia on Monday, said: “The Cotai Connection service operates on Cotai only, shuttling passengers between the integrated resorts on the Cotai Strip. Cotai Connection does not operate routes between Macau and Cotai, and therefore does not affect existing Macau-Cotai routes of the three operators. Cotai Connection is being launched on a three-month trial basis, allowing the three operators to review its schedule, frequency and effectiveness accordingly.”

In April, Sands China Ltd, the parent of Venetian Macau Ltd; and Galaxy Entertainment; had told GGRAsia that they did not plan to introduce restrictions – to the usage by guests – of their individually-operated free shuttle bus services (pictured in a file photo).

The city’s Transport Bureau had said in early March – in a written reply to questions from GGRAsia – that 11 casino shuttle bus routes in Macau had been cut as of that date and 10 routes had been “optimised,” as part of a move to reduce the number of such buses on the city’s roads by 20 percent.

Saturday’s press release from the three casino firms sharing the Cotai Connection service said the shuttle bus service would “facilitate the transport of visitors around the Cotai Strip.”

Saturday’s statement by the three operators said Cotai Connection would run from 11.30am to 10.30pm daily with 15- to 20-minute travel intervals between stops.

Serving all properties

Galaxy Entertainment runs the Galaxy Macau and Broadway Macau properties on Cotai. Melco Crown wholly owns City of Dreams Macau and is 60 percent owner of the Studio City resort on Cotai. Sands China runs the Venetian Macao, the Plaza Macao and Sands Cotai Central on Cotai.

The statement said: “Both the east and west route will stop at Galaxy Macau, Broadway Macau, Studio City, City of Dreams, the Venetian Macao and Sands Cotai Central.”

In April GGRAsia learned that at least two Macau casino operators had changed their rules on the provision of free shuttle bus services to visitors. MGM China Holdings Ltd and Wynn Macau Ltd do not currently have Cotai properties open, but shuttle customers to and from their single Macau peninsula properties.

The two firms respectively introduced a system requiring passengers to present a casino loyalty programme membership card or a receipt of purchase, in order to be allowed on board the free shuttle buses departing from their respective properties.

A number of investment analysts have mentioned the importance of high-quality transport links in building a mass-market audience for Cotai’s new casino resorts.

Macau’s new Pac On ferry terminal – located near the airport on Taipa Island and designed to bring mass-market tourists direct to the nearby Cotai resorts – will start operations only at the “beginning” of 2017 at best, Macau’s Infrastructure Development Office told GGRAsia in early May.

A light rail system planned for Macau would not launch until 2019 – and then only for Taipa next door to the Cotai casino district in the first phase – said Raimundo do Rosário, Macau’s Secretary for Transport and Public Works, speaking in December at a question and answer session in the city’s Legislative Assembly.

(Updated at 6.05pm, June 6)


  • tweet
Related articles
  • SJM to introduce clean-energy bus service in May
    SJM to introduce clean-energy bus...

    Apr 20, 2018  

  • Melco Resorts to run 20 electric buses in Macau from May 
    Melco Resorts to run 20 electric buses...

    Apr 18, 2018  

More news
  • Macau police detain one local over crypto coin launch
    Macau police detain one local over...

    Apr 20, 2018  

  • Singapore govt touts gaming oversight consolidation
    Singapore govt touts gaming oversight...

    Apr 20, 2018  


Latest News

Macau police detain one local over crypto coin launch

Macau police detain one local over crypto coin launch

Apr 20, 2018  

Macau’s Judiciary Police said on Friday that a male Macau resident had been detained for alleged involvement in giving false information designed to attract public subscribers to a cryptocurrency...
Read More
Singapore govt touts gaming oversight consolidation

Singapore govt touts gaming oversight consolidation

Apr 20, 2018  

Plenty of likely suitors for Wynn Macau Ltd: Telsey

Plenty of likely suitors for Wynn Macau Ltd: Telsey

Apr 20, 2018  

Slideshow

Macau casinos celebrate Chinese New Year

Interviews

  • BMM prepped for Macau EGM regulation update: White
    BMM prepped for Macau EGM regulation update: White

    Jan 04, 2018  

    BMM Testlabs “ticks all the boxes” with regard to its...
  • Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam casino biz to watch: Klebanow
    Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam casino biz to watch: Klebanow

    Dec 08, 2017  

    The regulated casino industry is well versed in dealing...
  • Cloud services, e-Sports highlights of MGS 2017: Chun
    Cloud services, e-Sports highlights of MGS 2017: Chun

    Oct 23, 2017  

    The presence of some of the leading cloud computing...
  • Crunch time for Tokyo casino option: Caesars exec
    Crunch time for Tokyo casino option: Caesars exec

    Jul 11, 2017  

    The Tokyo local election setback for Japan’s governing...
  • Suncity bets on Vietnam, resurgent Macau VIP: Andrew Lo
    Suncity bets on Vietnam, resurgent Macau VIP: Andrew Lo

    Jul 06, 2017  

    A multibillion U.S. dollar casino project on Vietnam’s...

Pick of the Day

”We do not believe that reopening the advance notice nomination deadline [for board directors] is appropriate or justified”

Daniel Boone Wayson

Chairman of the Wynn Resorts board of directors



Most Popular

  • Plenty of likely suitors for Wynn Macau Ltd: TelseyPlenty of likely suitors for Wynn Macau Ltd: Telsey April 20, 2018
  • Boracay casino scheme officially intact: PagcorBoracay casino scheme officially intact: Pagcor April 20, 2018
  • Wynn Resorts rejects Elaine Wynn fresh board pick planWynn Resorts rejects Elaine Wynn fresh board pick plan April 20, 2018

Copyright 2017 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us