MGM CEO says volatility in Macau is not going away soon

MGM International Resorts Chairman and Chief Executive Officer James Murren said in an interview that he doesn’t see stability in China in the near future.

“I don’t think that volatility is going away near-term,” Murren said in an interview on CNBC this week. “This year is uncertain.”

Last year, Macau gaming revenues declined 2.6% from MOP360.7 billion in 2013 to MOP352 billion. This result was the consequence of a seven-month declining streak during 2014. MGM saw its revenue dropped by 22% in Q4 2014—a decline generated from 39% dropped in VIP tables.

Murren, on the other hand, is still confident of Macau’s long-term potential despite VIP business suffering from China’s corruption crackdown.

Macau’s mass casino traffic up in CNY; VIP remains weak

According to data from the city’s Public Security Police, total tourists arrival to Macau during the first three days of Chinese New Year were up 3.4% year-on-year to 434,549.

In a data published from Macao Government Tourist Office’s website, 70.9% of the visitors, including foreign workers and students, came from Mainland China—an increase of 6.9% year-on-year.