Macau casino concessionaire MGM China Holdings Ltd will start opening from next month 124 new accommodation suites at its MGM Cotai complex (pictured), said Bill Hornbuckle, chief executive and president of the parent, MGM Resorts International.
“We will open, I think starting next month, 124 new suites in Cotai,” Mr Hornbuckle stated. “We converted three floors [of MGM Cotai] to just suites, for the premium mass business. It really makes a difference … and we’re pushing hard into that,” he added.
The group CEO was speaking at the JP Morgan Gaming, Lodging, Restaurant & Leisure Management Access Forum. The session was held on Thursday in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the United States, the base of MGM Resorts.
Mr Hornbuckle said business volumes in Macau were “great” at the start of 2026, despite the “luck goods” not supporting the company so far this year.
“What’s important is that buy-ins are great and continue to grow. I think the expectations we’ve set for the market this year are on track,” he noted.
The CEO also said the Macau market “remains competitive”, calling it a “dog’s fight” for market share.
“I don’t think anything is going to change dramatically in the context of competition,” he stated.
The executive said MGM China has “enjoyed a 15-percent-odd market share” in terms of gross gaming revenue (GGR) in Macau, and that the group will in likelihood “continue to do that”. He added: “I don’t think the market changes much in that context.”
Mr Hornbuckle stated: “I think Macau is in a pretty steady place in the next one or two years in the context of the shape of the market, the scale and how it’s being catered to.”
The CEO said the MGM group had so far spent about 35 percent of its circa US$2.3-billion pledge for non-gaming investment over the 10 years of the Macau government concession permit that started on January 1, 2023.
The executive recalled that aside from sponsoring a number of local initiatives and events, MGM China has launched several non-gaming attractions. These included resident show “Macau 2049” at MGM Cotai, and the “Poly MGM Museum” and a multi-purpose venue “Fantasy Box” at the group’s MGM Macau property in downtown Macau.
“How we are going to spend the next money, particularly given our scale, scope and footprint, is a bit more challenging. We are going to have a lot of conversations about that with the [Macau] government, on how to make it more effective and efficient,” Mr Hornbuckle said.
In Thursday’s session, Mr Hornbuckle also said he was “betting” his career on the success of the Japan venture.
MGM Resorts is developing with partners the JPY1.51-trillion (US$9.49-billion currently) MGM Osaka, due to open in late 2030.
He said of the Japan project: “If we start with about a US$2-billion cashflow business, we’re going to net about US$800 million out of this, given our stake and our share. It’s a meaningful business [opportunity].”
Also on the call, Jonathan Halkyard, MGM Resorts’ chief financial officer, said the group was “allocating this year probably US$450 million in equity investment” to the Japan project, with that amount set to “grow next year and the year after”.
He added: “But we think that’s going be the largest and most successful integrated resort since Marina Bay Sands [in Singapore], so, we are very happy to put capital in there.”
