InfoAnda - Macau casino makes a showy splash, but will punters come?

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

AP Exclusive: Feds detail Christmas Day attack | 24 January 2010
Just a Minute With: Japan's Oscar-winning Yojiro Takita | Entertainment | | 29 May 2009
U.N. says 600 die in South Sudan clashes | | 23 August 2011

Researchers study 'personality traits' of cars | 6 July 2009

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Macau casino makes a showy splash, but will punters come?

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Singapore Asia Pacific World Macau casino makes a showy splash, but will punters come? AFP - Thursday, August 12 Send IM Story Print MACAU (AFP) - – A Macau casino is making a splash with a watery new entertainment spectacle -- but the jury is still out on whether punters come to the betting-mad Chinese territory for anything other than gambling. A media preview Wednesday of a new aquatic acrobatics show at the City of Dreams casino featured a dizzying mix of gymnastics, martial arts, dance, swordplay and stunts. With gambling all but banned in China, visitors from the mainland and Hong Kong spend most of their time in Macau at its myriad casinos, enabling the former Portuguese colony to outpace Las Vegas in gambling revenues. But Macau has bigger ambitions, aiming to join the Nevada city and Singapore to the south as a hub for all-round entertainment with gambling thrown in. In one of many stunts in the vast "House of Dancing Water" show, men plunge from the top of a purpose-built arena into pools holding 3.7 million gallons (14 million litres) of water, enough to fill five Olympic swimming pools. Billed as the world's largest water-based show, it features evil queens, a heroine wearing a soaking white negligee, beefy bodyguards, and a hunchback with pointy shoes splashing around in multi-tiered pools of water. But past attempts to reinvent Macau as a venue for something more than gambling have made little impact, leaving questions as to whether this latest extravaganza costing 260 million US dollars will also find itself becalmed. Last year, Las Vegas Sands chairman Sheldon Adelson complained that ticket sales for the Cirque de Soleil show ZAIA at his Venetian hotel in Macau were "disappointing". The world-renowned act, which usually plays to capacity crowds, was the linchpin in the attempted reinvention of Macau. "Showbiz in Macau is in its infancy," Davis Fong, director of the University of Macau's Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming, told AFP. A key hurdle is that Macau's 23 million annual visitors stay an average of 1.5 days, less than the average three to four night stay in Las Vegas. However, Fong said more recent data suggest that visitors are beginning to stay longer, more like two days. "One show -- Cirque de Soleil -- was not enough to arouse attention from customers. But with two shows, Macau is becoming a more significant entertainment hub," he said. Aaron Fischer, gaming analyst at brokerage CLSA in Hong Kong, said the House of Dancing Water show "will no doubt be very impressive". "But they may have a difficult time getting mainland customers to pay 50 to 200 dollars" for a ticket, he said. Others are also betting that Macau can attract a more diverse clientele. The ritzy Ponte 16 resort -- half-owned by gambling tycoon Stanley Ho -- has paid about one million US dollars for Michael Jackson memorabilia at auctions in New York, Los Angeles and London in the past year. The resort paid 350,000 US dollars for Jackson's left-handed glove, worn when he performed his first "moonwalk" dance in 1983, as the centrepiece of a gallery dedicated to the late pop star. Developers have also restarted a plan to build a version of the Playboy Mansion in Macau. A survey released in June at Macau's Global Gaming Expo suggested Asia's gaming market could eclipse America's in as little as three years, as hubs such as Macau attract the region's growing legions of rich. Singapore's first casino opened in February and includes Southeast Asia's only Universal Studios movie theme park, as the city-state bids to ramp up its tourist appeal for families as well as serious gamblers. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles US STOCKS-Markets close lower for year in broad selloff Reuters - 25 minutes ago Cisco revenue misses Wall Street view Reuters - 26 minutes ago US-BUSINESS Summary Reuters - 41 minutes ago Obama signs bill to ease U.S. manufacturers' costs Reuters - 46 minutes ago Russia's LUKOIL resumes gasoline supply to Iran -trade Reuters - 46 minutes ago News Search Top Stories BP to start Libyan drilling this year US suffers widest trade gap in 20 months Poverty robs Yemeni children of their young years WHO list reveals flu advisors with industry ties Supermodel diamonds evidence meant to be 'low-key' More Top Stories » Related Full Coverage China Economychina economy All Full Coverage » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Visitors attack Taiwan 'haunted house' actors Chelsea agree Carvalho fee with Real A long, hot Ramadan for many devout Muslims Supermodel diamonds evidence meant to be 'low-key' New superbugs spreading from South Asia: study More Most Viewed » Argentine students crack three-decade-old murder mystery 40 US billionaires pledge half wealth to charity World's first full face transplant man appears on TV Calcium supplements linked to heart attacks: study Massive ice island breaks off Greenland glacier More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo! Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos World Cup 2010

Other News on Thursday, 12 August 2010
Twenty-three die in ambush in South Sudan oil state
Hackers siphon cash from British bank accounts
U.S. failed to plan for Guantanamo convicts
BP to start Libyan drilling this year
Rwanda's Kagame wins election by landslide |
Plastic Logic cancels QUE electronic reader
US suffers widest trade gap in 20 months
Germany to keep close eye on Google "Street View"
Poverty robs Yemeni children of their young years
23 die in ambush in South Sudan oil state |
WHO list reveals flu advisors with industry ties
Ethiopia eyes end of food aid within five years: PM |
U.N. appeals for $460 million for flooded Pakistan
Islamic charities versus the US in battle for Pakistan aid
Thailand to indict top Red Shirts for terrorism
Thai Supreme Court rejects Thaksin's asset appeal
China sentences to death two leaders of prostitution ring
Many Americans don't want government to push fast Internet |
S.Korea beat Nigeria 2-1 in friendly
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Rock band Weezer honors "Lost" star on new album
Former Sex Pistol headlines Hungary festival
Air China's Shenzhen signs Airbus purchase
South India star makes Bollywood's most expensive film
Macau casino makes a showy splash, but will punters come?
Tiger Woods' TV allure: the "train wreck" factor
Old Spice hunk exchanges roles in Tyler Perry films
ICBC buyout plan sends Hong Kong unit shares soaring
Busy mogul Nick Cannon finds time for pillow talk with Mariah
India central bank seeks more banks for rural areas
Fantasia's dad speaks out |
Eminem fends off Taylor Swift on U.S. singles chart |
Canada rockers Arcade Fire heat up U.S. album chart |
Rock band Weezer honors Lost star on new album |
Karroubi: Iran sanctions strengthening government
U.N. warns of second wave of Pakistani flood deaths |
US-TECH Summary
U.S. braces for Kandahar fight, anti-corruption battle |
U.S. sentences bin Laden's cook to 14 years
Russia admits fires burned on Chernobyl-hit land
Stem cells used to treat killer skin disease
IBM, Oracle end lawsuit over poaching executives
Keep or close Guantanamo? Military jurors weigh in |
US court says Germany can be sued over Hitler-era bonds
Russia urges no panic over Chernobyl-hit regions
Top Iraqi officer warns US must stay past 2011
England, Argentina put World Cup trauma behind them
U.S. sentences bin Laden's cook to 14 years |
Google to serve ads on DIRECTV satellite dish programs
US sticks to Iraq withdrawal timetable
AP Exclusive: Aid workers' last moments
U.S. upbeat on Iraq despite violence, deadlock |
Cisco revenue climbs but profit disappoints
Astronauts remove failed cooling pump in ISS spacewalk
Chechen rebels claim small blast near Gazprom HQ |
Smartphone apps help keep the faith on Ramadan
Many Americans don't want government to push fast Internet
Fake candidate mocks Australian vote campaign
India considers BlackBerry suspension over security
No Ramadan respite as unrest rocks Indian Kashmir
U.S. braces for Kandahar fight, anti-corruption battle
Myanmar designates constituencies for rare election
Hollywood greens up with environmental database
Politician-boxer Pacquiao to train at parliament
Nearly 200 of Japan's oldest citizens 'missing'
India officials meet over BlackBerry security |
UN aid push for Pakistan as US steps up relief
Japan satisfied by Apple moves on overheating iPods |
Leonardo DiCaprio attacker pleads not guilty
China's golden skating pair to host wedding on ice
IBM, Oracle end lawsuit over poaching executives |
Fantasia's dad speaks out
Rains bring new misery to China mudslide town
Outback Australians first voters in August 21 election
Mahindra becomes preferred bidder for Ssangyong
Lea Michele has Justin Timberlake on her mind
Seoul shares end down; econ concerns hit POSCO
Seven reasons Fox hasn't signed an "Idol" judge
S.Korea c.bank holds rates, but next rise seen soon
UK PM backs ban on sale of cheap alcohol: report
Korea Hot Stocks-SK Energy, GS down on oil field concerns
Zsa Zsa Gabor home from hospital with new hip
Emmy voters favor fresh, complex drama series
Gloom reigns as US recovery slows
Does "Lost's" demise make it Emmy's sure thing?
S.Korea freezes key interest rate at 2.25 pct
"Eat Pray Love" an unappetizing combo
Strike shuts down Japanese mine in Bolivia
"Mad Men" links up with smoking charity for auction
China Everbright Bank on track to raise $3.2 bln
Hollywood greens up with environmental database
PAKISTAN
Judge removes herself from Lindsay Lohan case |
Emmy voters favor fresh, complex drama series |
S.Korea c.bank: price stability "very important"
Seven reasons Fox hasn't signed an Idol judge |
Lea Michele has Justin Timberlake on her mind |
Eat Pray Love an unappetizing combo |
Mad Men links up with smoking charity for auction |
Zsa Zsa Gabor home from hospital with new hip |
Hollywood greens up with environmental database |
Does Lost's demise make it Emmy's sure thing? |
Top TV Salaries: Winfrey, Seacrest, Sheen, Laurie |
Japan satisfied by Apple moves on overheating iPods
Iran woman facing stoning death appears on state TV
European stocks fall, London drops 0.26%
Drought ruins Russia wheat, U.S. says no world crisis |
Russia says Chernobyl-area radiation normal
GM profits surge past $1 bln as IPO looms
Iraq general says army not ready for U.S. pullout
Israel said to reject Palestinian formula for talks |
French trial hears of chef's body found in freezer
Global equities rocked by economic recovery fears
Claims of Afghan civilian deaths spark protest
Austerity hits Greek economy harder than forecast |
Sixteen UK tourists stuck in Costa Rican mountains
In Afghanistan, stillness among the chaos
First use of tools pushed back a million years
Low prices drive second quarter phone sales up 14 pct: Gartner
Ecuador rocked by 6.9 quake, no major damage |
Medics killed in Afghan ambush, aid group says |
Penpix: The main players in al Qaeda's Saharan operations |
Car bomb explodes in Colombian capital |
Italy's Berlusconi offers olive branch to rebels |
Deadly Typhoon Dianmu cuts across Japan
Radical Indonesia cleric silent over terror claims
Pakistani president tries to comfort flood victims
Hidden trillions widen China's wealth gap
French star Bardot says 'no one' can play her
China says foreign firms get fair anti-trust shake
Pakistan floods destroy crops, could cost billions
Giant panda has second set of twins in Japan
China offers to help N.Korea crack down on crime
Scott Pilgrim movie speaks to gamer generation |
India meeting on BlackBerry ends without decision
George Michael charged with drug, driving offences
India industrial output grows at slow pace
Low prices drive second quarter phone sales up 14 pct: Gartner |
Pakistan's forex reserves ease to $16.46 bln
French star Bardot says 'no one' can play her
Celebrity publicist sought in Mel Gibson case
Seoul shares end at 1-mth low; econ fears hit POSCO
Jetblue folk hero electrifies news media, ad firms
Extreme tourists set off to walk through Africa
George Michael charged with possessing drugs |
Cancer gets first TV comedy twist in The Big C |
Jetblue folk hero electrifies news media, ad firms |
"Scott Pilgrim" movie speaks to gamer generation
Judge removes herself from Lindsay Lohan case |
Low prices drive second quarter phone sales up 14 pct: Gartner
Celebrity publicist sought in Mel Gibson case |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01