Inside Asian Gaming

November 2017 inside asian gaming 9 Macau’s gross gaming revenue through the eight days of Golden Week from 1 to 8 October grew 49% on September numbers and 9% year-on-year to around MOP$8.5 billion, according to brokerage Sanford C Bernstein. But mass market revenue came in below expectations, with growth in the “low single digits” bringing overall GGR down from pre-Golden Week estimates of a low double digit increase. Although visitation to Macau during the eight days was up 10.3% year-on- year and arrivals from mainland China up 11.0%, “reasonably strong visitation growth did not correspond to strong mass GGR growth,” according to Bernstein analysts. “VIP volumes were weak during the first half of the week, but picked up to mid-teens year-on-year growth for the whole week largely driven by high VIP hold rate,” they said. “Mass GGR was up by in the range of low-single digits % year-on-year. “While GGR was generally in-line with our expectations, the mix was poorer than we had expected and mass was disappointing.” Ourgame to build 10 eSports stadiums in US and China Chinese games developer Ourgame International Holdings Limited has revealed plans to open up to 10 eSports arenas in China and the United States by 2019 as it looks to aggressively expand its eSports business. The news formed part of an update on the proposed issuance of subscription shares, which Ourgame expects will raise around HK$416 million to put towards its eSports and poker businesses as well as Macau’s Golden Week revenue grows but mass market disappointing a revamp of its board game offerings in mainland China. Ourgame said it planned to spend HK$125 million “to further develop the eSports business and expand the global arena network” of its subsidiary, Tianjin Allied eSports Arena Internet Technology Co Ltd (AES). “The company plans to build approximately four to six eSports arenas in the US and approximately two to four eSports arenas in the PRC in 2018 and early 2019,” it said. “The company also plans to build approximately two mobile eSports arena trucks that are currently being used in Europe to be introduced to the US in 2018.” AES is currently developing the first permanent eSports venue on the Las Vegas Strip at MGM’s Luxor Hotel and Casino, due to open in 2018, having raised HK$120 million through the issuance of convertible notes in July.