Wynn Palace’s walls close in; Tak Chun launch Studio City VIP Club

Casino operator Wynn Resorts is revamping the gaming floor of its new Wynn Palace property in Macau in a bid to boost excitement among mass market gamblers.

Morningstar Inc analyst Dan Wasiolek issued a report on Monday that claimed Wynn Palace’s disappointing performance to date was in part due to “its large and open casino space, which is leading to the perception of thin crowds and thereby reducing the feel of compressed energy that many gamers seek.”

Wynn Palace gamblers won’t be imagining things if they feel the walls are starting to close in on them, as Wasiolek’s report said Wynn management plan to “adjust wall configuration to reduce [Wynn Palace’s] gaming area while increasing casual dining options to meet demand.”

While some observers have opined that the über-luxurious Wynn Palace’s focus on VIP gamblers leaves it out of step with the broader Macau market’s ongoing shift to an emphasis on mass market gamblers, Wasiolek said the property’s “near-term challenges” haven’t affected his company’s long-term view of the property’s potential and the ability of its “stunning décor” to appeal to “high-income travelers.”