In response to a suggestion by Marcelo Álvaro Antônio, Brazil's Minister of Tourism, about the country's plans to invite investors to open resorts and theme parks, Macau casino tycoon Pansy Ho noted that, from the point of view of a gambling operator, Brazil “has the requirements to open an integrated resort.” She made the comments at a press conference during the 2019 World Economic Forum on Tourism (GTEF).
The multimillionaire and reference shareholder of one of the leading gambling operators in Macau, MGM China, stressed that it cannot be forgotten that Brazil “is one of the largest economies in Latin America” and that interest will always depend on future conditions, criteria and expectations to be defined.
“Macau's integrated operators and resorts obviously have experience and 'know how', so an investment in this area would always be attractive, both for the gaming's promoters in the territory, as well as others around the world, underlined the one that is also ambassador of the World Tourism Organization, a specialized UN agency.”
At a press conference, after the inaugural session of the Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF), in which Brazil and Argentina were honored guests, Pansy Ho noted that she did not make any direct contact with the Brazilian Government , although “this situation was raised as a concept.”
The eldest daughter of the gambling tycoon Stanley Ho, who died yesterday (May 26) in Hong Kong) said that "if or when more information is promoted and disseminated to major operators, this will certainly be a scenario to be evaluated, even if it requires knowing more about the criteria and expectations."
In the world capital of gambling, Marcelo Álvaro Antônio, commented that one of the clear options to boost tourism and private financing would be the opening of casinos in integrated resorts. "I want to remember that the legislative [power] in Brazil evaluates to regulate the operation of casinos in integrated resorts, opening up great investment routes in the country," said at the time the minister.
Macau, the world's gambling capital and the only territory in China where casino gambling is legal, recorded last year 32.8 billion euros in gaming revenue, an increase of 14% over 2017.
In Macau, there are three dealerships (Macau Gaming Society, Galaxy and Wynn resorts) and three sub-dealers (Venetian, MGM Resorts and Melco), with half of the operators having US capital.
Source: GMB
