“Relationships with junkets” in place
MGM Cotai, the $3.46 billion casino resort now under development in Macau, will open only with mass tables. VIP rooms will be added at a later date. The grand opening of the project, which was damaged by Typhoon Hato in August, was pushed back from 2017 to the end of January.
“We certainly will be opening with only mass tables but we have already developed relationships with a number of junkets,” Bowie told reporters at MGM Macau’s Oktoberfest celebration. “As we build up the property, we would expect that in time we will have junket operators in our property in Cotai. The relationships we have means we will have nearly all of the significant VIP operators” at MGM Cotai, he said.
According to GGRAsia, Bowie previously indicated that MGM Cotai would not focus on VIP play.
Its opening date of January 29 falls just before the Chinese New Year, a good time for the casino industry in Macau. But gaming isn’t all there is, as far as MGM China is concerned; the company says its Cotai property will put a strong emphasis on nongaming entertainment too.
“We all understand that Cotai is a new market for us,” Bowie said. “We also understand that we’re best positioned for the upper, premium market place. As we diversify and provide more entertainment, that’s going to attract a greater number of leisure and tourism visitors.”
