CORPORATE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF CASINO OFFICER
Las Vegas Sands
POWER SCORE: 721
POSITION LAST YEAR: Nil
CLAIMS TO FAME
- Oversees the economic engine of Marina Bay Sands, usually the most profitable integrated resort on the planet
- Began gaming career as a dealer in Tasmania, served as a regulator in Queensland
- Returned to gaming after a stint as a top executive at Macquarie Capital, Australia’s leading investment bank
Management changes at Marina Bay Sands early this year gave Andrew MacDonald day-to-day responsibility for gaming at Singapore’s iconic integrated resort. In fact, that’s been MacDonald’s role since joining MBS as its Executive Vice President of Casino in January 2010, three months before the IR took its first bet.
Last year, MacDonald’s gaming tables and machines produced US$2.7 billion in GGR, the main component of US$1.7 billion in EBITDA on a juicy 53.6% margin. MBS leverages its downtown Singapore location to have a healthy lead in the domestic gaming market over crosstown rival Resorts World Sentosa. Working without junket promoters, it’s also made progress in the Southeast Asian market, lessening its dependence on gamblers from China.
Starting as a dealer on Australia’s first legal gaming tables at Wrest Point Casino in Hobart, Tasmania, MacDonald moved up the ladder, eventually becoming a regulator in Queensland. He also logged stints at Genting, Crown and Jupiters Gold Coast (now The Star Gold Coast), before leaving gaming for investment banking as Managing Director and Co-Global head of Macquarie Capital.
LVS tapped MacDonald for his corporate role, operating from Singapore, in 2012. His global duties include casino performance analysis and strategic recommendations for each LVS property. Industry insiders say MacDonald has one of the sharpest mathematical minds in the gaming business.
For the full list of 2020 Asian Gaming Power 50 winners, click here.
