The world’s top-50 gaming companies lost collectively more than US$100 billion in market capitalisation in 2014, according to the latest update of the GBGC 50 index, compiled by Global Betting and Gaming Consultants, based in the Isle of Man.
“Between January 2014 and January 2015, the value of the GBGC 50 index fell by 28 percent, from 237 points to 172 points,” the firm said on Wednesday.
The index tracks the performance of the world’s 50 largest gaming companies by market capitalisation focusing purely on their gaming activities. The index includes both casino operators and gaming suppliers.
The top-50 gaming companies had a total market capitalisation – judged by gambling operations – of US$249.8 billion at the start of 2015, down from US$350.9 billion one year before, the index authors said.
The main reason for the sluggishness was the poor stock performance of Macau gaming stocks, which dominate the upper positions of the ranking. As a result, Sands China Ltd has now been replaced in the top spot by parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp.
There were no major changes in the top-10 largest gaming companies, according to the GBGC 50 index. Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd remained ranked third, followed by Wynn Macau Ltd, Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd and Wynn Resorts Ltd – exactly the same order as in January 2014.
The publicly available GBGC 50 index did not give a breakdown of market capitalisation by company.
Despite a poor run in 2014, MGM China Holdings Ltd was able to climb one spot in the index, moving to seventh. It changed places with SJM Holdings Ltd, which had the worst stock performance last year among the six Macau casino operators.
Genting Singapore Plc, the operator of casino resort Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore, remained ranked ninth, while sister company Genting Malaysia Bhd changed positions with Australia’s Crown Ltd, now being ranked 10th.
Kangwon Land Ltd, the owner and operator of South Korea’s only casino allowed to accept Koreans players, remains in 13th position.
The highest ranking for a gaming supplier in the GBGC 50 is that of International Game Technology (IGT), in 15th place.
