• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Monday 28 July 2025
  • zh-hant 中文
  • ja 日本語
  • en English
IAG
Advertisement
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
  • 日本語
No Result
View All Result
IAG
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
  • 日本語
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

Sands Cotai Central to re-open this week but Macau virus pain far from over: Dr Wilfred Wong

Jane Ka Cheng Wong by Jane Ka Cheng Wong
Tue 25 Feb 2020 at 04:28

Sands Cotai Central

79
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Sands China President Dr Wilfred Wong has described the current period as the most difficult for Macau’s gaming industry since liberalization, noting there is no immediate end in sight to the massive loss in revenues being experienced by operators.

Speaking to media during a charity event on Monday in which Sands China announced it was donating 30,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to local charity groups, Dr Wong revealed that Sands Cotai Central – one of 12 Macau properties to remain closed last week – would re-open this Thursday. But he warned it would still be some time before Macau returned to full operations.

“[Business] after re-opening is bad and we cannot even compare how bad it is with the past,” said Dr Wong. “This difficult time will last until the resumption of the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) and tour groups from mainland China.

“Macau hasn’t recorded new cases for 20 days so it is doing a great job on preventing the spread of the Coronavirus, but we still have to wait for the situation in the mainland.

“Some reduction of gaming revenues had occurred in previous years, but guests were still able to come at that time. Now guests are not allowed to come. And although the medical tests imposed on tourists is a good preventive measure for Macau, for mainland tourists, they won’t be willing to wait several hours to cross into Macau. Some tourists just won’t return.”

Dr Wong also noted that the spread of the virus into other nearby nations was a growing concern, stating, “[The outbreak of the Coronavirus] has not only happened in mainland, but also in South Korea and Japan. Macau’s tourism industries depend on all of these markets.”

Meanwhile, Dr Wong revealed that Sands Cotai Central will re-open on 27 February, albeit with limited operations. Sands China has until now arranged staff to take leave during the closure period to save costs, with only around 30% of casino staff having returned to work since the 15-day casino closure came to an end last week.

“We try to save our energy and prepare the best for the rest of this year,” he said. “We hoped that people would engage in going out after staying at home during the quarantine days, but it’s hard to say.”

As previously reported by Inside Asian Gaming, Sands China announced late last week that Grant Chum had been promoted to the role of Chief Operating Officer, with Dr Wong retaining the position of President after almost five years as President and COO.

Discussing the change on Monday, Dr Wong said, “The company is always looking at the long-term future. This is my fifth year. I put in place a lot of procedures and operational arrangements which I think will safeguard operations in the future.

“If I look forward to my new four-year contract, I would like to play a more active role in strategic initiatives in both Macau and the Greater Bay Area. I will still be the President to lead the company’s operations. We hope to build Sands China to be the best not only in Macau but also worldwide.”

Share44Share4
Jane Ka Cheng Wong

Jane Ka Cheng Wong

Jane Ka Cheng Wong is a journalist who joined Inside Asian Gaming after working for local Macau media for many years. As part of the IAG team she covers Macau-based stories relating to politics, gaming, IRs and local associations among other topics. Jane is intrigued by unique scenarios, vibrant cultures and different people, and hopes to continue exploring new places around the world in the future.

Current Issue

Editorial – An inconvenient truth

Editorial – An inconvenient truth

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 15:21

It’s understandable that political observers, academics and members of the public in greenfield jurisdictions would express caution around the legalization...

Light & Wonder’s Siobhan Lane

Light & Wonder’s Siobhan Lane

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 15:19

Siobhan Lane, Light & Wonder’s highly experienced CEO of Gaming, speaks to Inside Asian Gaming about the company’s ongoing transformation...

Honesty is the best policy

Honesty is the best policy

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 14:13

The Thailand Entertainment Complex Roundtable brought industry stakeholders, politicians and supporters of the government’s Entertainment Complex Bill face to face...

Sri Lanka’s casino industry

Sri Lanka’s casino industry

by Shaun McCamley
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 13:36

Industry veteran Shaun McCamley delves into the complex history of Sri Lanka’s casino industry at a time when the country...

Evolution Asia
Your browser does not support HTML5 video.
Aristocrat
GLI
Nustar
SABA
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
NWR
Jumbo
568Win

Related Posts

Ainsworth completes first Philippines installations of new A-Star slots cabinet

Independent Expert says Novomatic’s US$104 million Ainsworth takeover proposal is “fair and reasonable”

by Ben Blaschke
Mon 28 Jul 2025 at 06:02

An Independent Expert tasked with assessing a plan by European gaming giant Novomatic to assume full control of Australian supplier Ainsworth Game Technology (AGT) has described the scheme as “fair and reasonable”. Despite vocal opposition by a smaller shareholder block,...

Death by a thousand cuts

Probity concern for Star as NSW regulator said to be wary of Bally’s takeover plan

by Ben Blaschke
Mon 28 Jul 2025 at 05:58

The NSW casino regulator is said to hold concerns over the planned takeover of embattled Star Entertainment Group by US casino operator Bally’s Corp, promising to run a close eye over its strategy to reverse Star’s flagging fortunes. According to...

STDM-run casino among five concessions up for grabs in Portugal as government launches tender process

STDM-run casino among five concessions up for grabs in Portugal as government launches tender process

by Ben Blaschke
Mon 28 Jul 2025 at 05:54

The Portuguese government has launched a public tender to award licenses for the operation of five casinos in three areas – Algarve, Espinho and Póvoa de Varzim – for the next 15 years. The Póvoa de Varzim casino concession is...

Winds of change

Belle Corp’s share in City of Dreams Manila gaming revenue down 18% in 1H25

by Newsdesk
Sat 26 Jul 2025 at 08:39

Philippines real estate firm Belle Corp saw its share in gaming revenue from City of Dreams Manila fall by 18% year-on-year to Php772.3 million (US$13.5 million) in the first half of 2025, reflecting the challenges currently being faced by Manila’s...

Your browser does not support the video tag.


IAG

© 2005-2024
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE
  • 中文
  • 日本語

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • 中文
  • 日本語
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2024
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • 中文
  • English
  • 日本語