Soaring numbers of high rollers at Las Vegas Sands' casino in Macau appear to have plateaued as the company's turnover from VIP gaming suffered its first sequential decline, despite a record quarter.
Turnover of VIP gambling chips during the first three months fell 6 per cent from the previous quarter to US$3.94 billion, compared with a 4 per cent rise in the Macau high-roller market for the period.
Two rivals opened new casinos during the quarter.
Sands management said the casino was experiencing shortages of VIP table space.
'We remain capacity-constrained as we ramp up the VIP side of the business, particularly during peak playing times,' Sands president William Weidner told investors in a conference call yesterday.
The company is adding 16 tables or 30 per cent more space for high-stakes play later this month. It is also reassessing its network of junket operators - marketing agents responsible for bringing in and issuing credit to gamblers - to ensure that only the highest of high rollers receive the VIP treatment.