Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG), one of Macau’s Big 6 casino concessionaires, is planning to join the trend toward “smart gaming tables” equipped with radio frequency identification (RFID) chips.
According to GGRAsia, in its first-quarter earnings call last week GEG said it will install the first machines in July, and add more over the course of the year.
In a May 15 note, analyst Vitaly Umansky of Seaport Research said the company posted a loss of 17.2 percent, in part as a result of an overhaul of its gaming floor at Galaxy Macau.
“The company has revamped their marketing structure over the last few months and should see smart digital tables begin utilization by year-end and into early next year,” Umansky wrote. “While player reinvestment has risen in Macau (especially at the upper end of premium mass), Galaxy remains committed to not focus on competing on escalating player reinvestment.”
He said Galaxy Macau’s “competitive advantage … remains its scale, service and product offering. With a re-focus on sales process and operational execution, we expect share gains to continue at Galaxy Macau over the next few quarters and into 2025.”
Despite the first-quarter loss, Umansky added, “We sense management (is) optimistic and confident on the Macau outlook especially given the recent expansion of IVS (the individual visa scheme), which we believe will likely improve connectivity further which focuses on pushing Greater Bay.”
MGM was the first operator in Macau to introduce smart tables, dating back to 2016. In recent comments, MGM China Chief Operating Officer Hubert Wang said the tables are an effective way to deter cheaters, and also enables the operator “to do precision marketing based on various customers’ playing level.”
Other operators in Macau have also invested in the technology, including Sands China and Wynn China. And Inside Asian Gaming has reported that Melco Resorts & Entertainment and SJM also plan to utilize smart tables.
