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Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail Yahoo! Search Search: Sign InNew User? Sign Up News Home - Help Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Singapore Asia Pacific World Search Search: Macau still worth a gamble: analysts AFP - Sunday, March 15 MACAU (AFP) - - Half-finished casinos and dropping revenues have fueled fears that Macau's staggering growth has faltered, but analysts insist the gaming haven remains a sure long-term bet. ADVERTISEMENT The former Portuguese colony has transformed itself from a sleepy backwater to a dazzling entertainment centre in the last five years, with foreign and Chinese-owned casinos sprouting up across the territory. The city of just 550,000 now takes in more gaming revenue than Las Vegas and Atlantic City combined, thanks to the voracious gambling of Chinese visitors who have poured in from the mainland. But worries over corruption, problem-gambling and foreign companies grabbing the spoils from China's recent economic boom led Chinese authorities to stem the flow of visitors last summer. The tougher visa restrictions caused a sharp drop in revenue growth sparking a slew of negative stories, plummeting casino stocks and a hiatus in the city's construction boom. But some analysts are adamant fears about Macau's demise are premature. "Macau has been used to more than 40-percent growth -- that cannot be sustainable and a slowdown is natural," said Zeng Zhonglu, a professor in gaming economies at Macau Polytechnic Institute. "My impression is that the economy generally is healthy." Jonathan Galaviz, an analyst with Las Vegas-based consultancy Globalysis, said any disruption to economic growth will be temporary with Macau's performance short-term expected to fluctuate along with the Asian economy. While gaming revenues dipped sharply over the second half of 2008, the city still raked in a total of 13.5 billion US dollars for the year, a 31 percent increase year-on-year. Revenues rose 46 percent in 2007. Meanwhile, employment held steady in the three months to January and retail sales rose 34 percent in 2008. Gaming is a central part of the economy. During a recent visit, there were lengthy queues at the immigration counter and the city centre jewellery and watch stores were humming with shoppers. The tables at the Grand Lisboa, the flagship casino of local tycoon Stanley Ho, were three deep with heavy-smoking Chinese gamblers playing their favourites game of Baccarat. But it is in the hidden world of the VIP gaming rooms where the city has suffered. VIP revenues have played a central role in the success of Macau's economy with top casinos tussling with each other to attract high-rollers. But many of the heaviest gamblers were Chinese government officials and the heads of state-owned companies, whose frittering away of public cash in Macau's private rooms has become a national scandal. Unsurprisingly, official figures are not collated, but Zeng has combed through mainland media reports to establish a clearer picture. Of the 99 cases he uncovered, he said each official or businessman lost an average of 20 million yuan (2.9 million US) on the tables. One official lost 100 million yuan in one day in 2007, while another had to be carried out of a Macau casino as he was too weak to walk after six days and nights of constant gambling. "The central government is highly concerned that so much money is disappearing in Macau," Zeng said. "It leads to bribes and the theft of public funds, all of which greatly damages the government's reputation." Glenn McCartney, a tourism academic at Macau University and local businessman, said the city had to change its business focus from VIPs to a genuine mass-market entertainment, attracting visitors from across Asia. "I am very confident about Macau. The market is not anywhere near maturity level yet," he said. "But Macau is not Las Vegas. If I was sitting in the marketing department of a casino firm, I would be asking what changes we have to make so we can attract more people from the mainland." US firm Las Vegas Sands in particular is hoping China will allow more visitors in. The most aggressive foreign investor in the city, it opened the world's biggest casino, The Venetian, in 2008. But worsening credit markets have stalled its ventures across the world, and last November it was forced to sack 11,000 workers and halt work on a huge complex of new hotels opposite the gargantuan Venetian. Four months later, the quiet building site remains the most potent symbol both of Macau's risks for investors, and its potential. Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Recommend this article Average (0 votes) Sign in to recommend this article » Most Recommended Stories » Related Articles: China's Economy Malaysia cuts foreign worker permits by 70%AFP - 1 hour 14 minutes ago China recovers $1.2 bln embezzled in coal regionAFP - 1 hour 42 minutes ago Macau still worth a gamble: analystsAFP - Sunday, March 15 G20 bridges differences before key finance summitAFP - Sunday, March 15 Related Articles: Business Malaysia cuts foreign worker permits by 70%AFP - 1 hour 14 minutes ago China recovers $1.2 bln embezzled in coal regionAFP - 1 hour 42 minutes ago Vodafone Qatar to launch IPO on April 12Reuters - 1 hour 58 minutes ago OPEC oil cartel set for crucial output meetAFP - Sunday, March 15 Insurance giant AIG to pay $165 million in bonusesAP - Sunday, March 15 Enlarge Photo Macau still worth a gamble: analysts Related Photos Slideshow Full Photo Coverage: Business & Economy Related Full Coverage China Economy china economy All Full Coverage Most Popular – Business Viewed For sale: nagging wife, very high maintenance World Bank warns of "very dangerous" year ahead Obama program helping US economy: Summers Bailed-out AIG plans bonuses worth millions: report Arrest warrant issued for Lindsay Lohan View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! 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