Sands reportedly brings back electronic wagers
Analysts from Daiwa Securities Inc. say at least one of two Macau casino operators that previously prohibited telephone betting in VIP rooms is now permitting the activity. GGB News has confirmed that Wynn Macau is the company that has resumed proxy phone betting.
“Since October 2014, we have seen VIP market-share movement shift away from the operators that have banned this activity,” wrote Jamie Soo and Adrian Chan in a note. “Its resumption may have an influence over VIP market share in the coming months.”
According to GGRAsia, the analyst team says telephone betting has accounted for up to 8 percent of annual VIP betting in Macau. Players who bet by phone must “commit a minimum of HKD1 million (US$129,000) to HKD3 million in gaming capital,” they wrote.
Last fall, Sands China banned junket operators from running telephone betting in VIP rooms in its Macau properties, and GGRAsia reported that at least one other Macau operator (Daiwa identified it as Wynn Macau) also cut off the bets. Sands China confirmed that its policy on “restriction of use of electronic device at the gaming table remains in place.” No word on the bets was available from the Wynn property.
Sources say operators in Macau are being cautious about phone bets because they potentially break the “know your customer” rule, and lead to secrecy that could contribute to graft and money laundering.
