Inside Asian Gaming

IAG JUL 2020年7月 亞博匯 12 亞博匯早報 BREAKFAST BRIEFS MBS PROBE COULD CEDE VIP SHARE TO SINGAPORE RIVAL 針對濱海灣金沙的調查可 能令到其貴賓市場佔有率 流向聖淘沙名勝世界 A PROBE into potential anti-money-laundering breaches by Marina Bay Sands – the Singapore casino owned and operated by Las Vegas Sands – could result in domestic rival Resorts World Sentosa gaining substantial VIP share, according to Maybank analyst Samuel Yin Shao Yang. Bloomberg reported recently that the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a subpoena ordering a former MBS compliance chief to supply documents and any other information related to the accounts of VIP players. The report alleges US prosecutors are investigating possible violations regarding the use of junkets, or third-party lending using casino credit, as well as whether there has been any retaliation against whistleblowers. In a note, Yin recalled that MBS also faced a DOJ investigation in 2010 in relation to a lawsuit filed by Steven Jacobs, the former CEO of another LVS subsidiary, Sands China. On that occasion, RWS saw its share of Singapore’s VIP market soar to a record high of 67% and remain above 50% for the next two quarters. By comparison, since opening in January 2010, RWS has averaged 47% of Singapore VIP volume. “We do not presume that either MBS, Sands China or LVS was or is guilty or innocent of any charges – which company has never had to deal with disgruntled ex-employees?” Yin said. “What we gather is VIPs tend to avoid casinos which are under investigation, especially by the DOJ. “Learning from history, we gather that RWS could benefit from higher share of VIP volume.” Both MBS and RWS reopened on 1 July. 金英証券分析師 Samuel Yin Shao Yang表示，一項關於濱海灣金 沙(MBS)可能違反反洗黑錢規例的調查，可能令到其本地競爭對 手聖淘沙名勝世界(RWS)佔據大量貴賓廳市場份額。MBS為拉斯 維加斯金沙擁有及營運的新加坡賭場。 彭博社近期報道，美國司法部已經向MBS合規部門的一位前 主管發出傳票，要求提供文件及任何其他關於貴賓賭客帳戶的資 訊。該報道稱美國的檢控官員正調查可能存在的違法行為，包括 關於使用博彩中介人或使用娛樂場信貸的第三方借貸行為，以及 有沒有舉報人被報復。 在一份投資觀點中，Yin重提MBS於2010年也曾被美國司法部 調查一事，有關拉斯維加斯金沙另一間子公司金沙中國前行政總 裁翟國成(Steven Jacobs)的官司。在該次事件當中RWS在新加坡 貴賓市場的佔有率大漲至67%的歷史高位，並且在隨後兩季維持 在50%以上。相較起來，自從RWS於2010年1月開幕以來，其新加 坡貴賓佔有率平均為47%。 「我們並不會預設MBS、金沙中國或拉斯維加斯金沙是否 有罪或清白，畢竟哪一間公司沒有需要應付過心懷不滿的前員工 呢？」Yin表示，「我們得到的資訊是，貴賓賭客通常會避開正在接 受調查的娛樂場所，尤其是司法部的調查。」 「從歷史方面，我們歸納出RWS可能會從更高的貴賓市場份 額中有所得益。」 濱海灣金沙及聖淘沙名勝世界皆在7月1日重新開始營業。