• 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

Mass Chinese visitors drove Jan-Feb mass gaming: MS

Mar 26, 2018 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  


Mass Chinese visitors drove Jan-Feb mass gaming: MS

There was a correlation in the two first months of 2018 between the volume of Chinese visitors to Macau that period and the year-on-year growth in mass-market gaming revenue in the city’s casinos, suggested a Sunday note from Morgan Stanley Asia Ltd.

“The majority of mass [gaming] revenue growth (+16 percent year-on-year) came from Chinese visitation (+15 percent year-on-year), and less from [general consumer] spending growth,” said analysts Praveen Choudhary and Jeremy An, citing data from the Macau government and proprietary research by the financial institution.

Industry analysts and other commentators have previously noted that – given the strength of the VIP and high stakes mass-market segments, the performance of the so-called “grind” market of base mass customers wagering on live table games at the lowest available minimum bets was not necessarily driven by headline numbers of mass tourists to Macau.

Data released on Friday by the city’s Statistics and Census Service said that in February, the aggregate number of tourists to the Special Administrative Region rose by 23.1 percent year-on-year, to 3.07 million. It was the highest monthly tally since August 2014.

The tally of visitors from mainland China – Macau’s largest single source market for tourists – was 2.29 million, rising by 37.3 percent compared to the prior-year period. The aggregate of mainland visitors travelling to Macau under China’s Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) – a category of independent traveller generally viewed as more valuable to the local casino and tourism sector than people in accompanied tour groups – leapt by 57.9 percent year-on-year to 1.40 million. The amount was a new single-month record since the implementation of the scheme in July 2003.

Morgan Stanley noted: “Travel through the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) and from Guangdong province soared in February thanks to Chinese New Year and [Macau's] proximity [to feeder markets], but overall the trend is that visitation from lower-tier cities still grew at a faster rate (23 percent year-on-year) than that from Tier 1 cities (+8 percent year-on-year) in the first two months of 2018.” That was a reference to a system used by marketing professionals and some other commentators to grade Chinese cities and places by factors including economic development, local gross domestic product, advanced transportation systems and infrastructure, as well as for historical and cultural significance.

Morgan Stanley said that in its analysis, it adjudged Beijing, Shanghai and the whole of Guangdong province to be Tier 1 jurisdictions.

“This analysis assumes that the majority of gaming revenue comes from Chinese,” stated the institution.

“If we were to look at total visitors, mass revenue per total visitors did grow 7 percent year-on-year,” the bank’s analysts added.

Morgan Stanley had said in a January report that growth of the Macau gross gaming revenue was likely to be aided in coming years by lower-tier Chinese cities.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Macau VIP GGR up 20pct sequentially in 1Q: govt
    Macau VIP GGR up 20pct...

    Apr 16, 2021  

  • Macau casino 1Q EBITDA softer sequentially: MS
    Macau casino 1Q EBITDA softer...

    Apr 12, 2021  

More news
  • Macau govt, analysts tip May Day bounty at casino resorts
    Macau govt, analysts tip May Day bounty...

    Apr 20, 2021  

  • Paradise Ent says deployment of own slots hit by pandemic
    Paradise Ent says deployment of own...

    Apr 20, 2021  


Latest News

Macau govt, analysts tip May Day bounty at casino resorts

Macau govt, analysts tip May Day bounty at casino resorts

Apr 20, 2021  

The average nightly occupancy rate for Macau hotels – including properties in casino resorts – could reach “70 percent to 80 percent” during the upcoming Labour Day break in May,...
Read More
Paradise Ent says deployment of own slots hit by pandemic

Paradise Ent says deployment of own slots hit by pandemic

Apr 20, 2021  

Belle Corp 2020 gaming revenue from CoD Manila dips 79pct

Belle Corp 2020 gaming revenue from CoD Manila dips 79pct

Apr 20, 2021  

Japan casino draft rules strict, but evolving: experts

Japan casino draft rules strict, but evolving: experts

Apr 20, 2021  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day

”We are filled with gratitude and excitement as we approach our opening this June and hope to play a role in Las Vegas’s rebound after what has been an incredibly challenging year”

Scott Sibella

President of Resorts World Las Vegas



Most Popular

  • Macau gaming demand recovering comfortably: analystsMacau gaming demand recovering comfortably: analysts April 20, 2021
  • Talks on NagaWorld lay-offs amid pandemic: sourceTalks on NagaWorld lay-offs amid pandemic: source April 19, 2021
  • NUSTAR complex in Cebu slated to open 2022: UHRINUSTAR complex in Cebu slated to open 2022: UHRI April 16, 2021
  • Macau VIP GGR up 20pct sequentially in 1Q: govtMacau VIP GGR up 20pct sequentially in 1Q: govt April 16, 2021
  • Oaktree offers US$$2.3bln for Crown to buy out PackerOaktree offers US$$2.3bln for Crown to buy out Packer April 19, 2021
Copyright 2014-2021 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us