LARGE PUBLICLY TRADED GAMING COMPANIES: LVS SEVENTEENTH LECTURE October 23, 2012 William R. Eadington, Ph.D. Professor of Economics, College of Business Director, Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming University of Nevada, Reno
LAS VEGAS SANDS Founded by Sheldon Adelson after the $800 m sale of Comdex (1987 or so) Built the Sands Convention Center Demolished the Sands and built the Venetian Las Vegas Won a concession in Macau in partnership with Galaxy Opened the Sands Macau (2004) and then the Venetian Macau (2007) Opened the Pallazo in 2007 Major developments and plans for the Cotai Strip in Macau; near bankruptcy in 2009 Opened Sands Bethlehem (PA) in 2009 Won a Singapore license in 2006; opened Marina Bay Sands in 2010 Opened the Four Seasons (Plaza Macau) in 2010 and the Cotai Center Strip in 2012 Major plans for more Macau construction
SANDS CONVENTION CENTER
LAS VEGAS SANDS IN ASIA Unusual process led to LVS getting a concession in Macau (2002) – Originally partnered with Taiwan firm; unacceptable – Not a publicly traded corporation – Chinese broker who later sued; awarded about $50 m First to open an American-style Macau casino: Sands Macau in 2004 – Payback period in less than one year Built the Venetian Macau, which opened in August 2007 – 2 nd largest building under one roof in the world Financial difficulties in – Share price from $150 to under $2
LAS VEGAS SANDS: OPENED AT 53; CLOSED AT 1.77; MAXIMUM ACHIEVED WAS at Loss of value from Maximum: 98.7%
THE SANDS MACAU
INTERIOR OF THE SANDS
EARLY MODEL OF COTAI STRIP
THE VENETIAN MACAU
VENETIAN MACAU ENTRANCE
THE CASINO (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
PALAZZO LAS VEGAS
WINNING THE BID IN SINGAPORE Were not the favorites (behind Harrah’s and MGM, both in partnership with Singapore Sovereign Fund land companies) Based on their initial analysis, they overbid the CAPEX at about U.S.$5 b Won the bid in May 2006; opened the facility in April 2010 Highest grossing and most profitable casino in the world by 2011
CONSTRAINTS IMPOSED BY SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT S$100 entrance fee for Singapore residents – Annual “membership” of S$2,000 per year Exclusions if you are been through bankruptcy or convicted of a felony $1 billion land lease for the duration of the license (25 years) Strict licensing standards Severe restrictions on local marketing – Prohibitions against shuttle busses
MARINA BAY SANDS SINGAPORE
SKYPARK AT THE MARINA BAY SANDS
INFINITY POOL AT SKYPARK, MARINA BAY SANDS
RECENT LVS SCANDALS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES 2011 Inductee into the AGA Gaming Hall of Fame Claimed he would contribute $100 m to Romney to defeat Obama in this election cycle Wrongful Termination lawsuit brought by Steven Jacobs, 2009 => Still in Las Vegas court Exposés published by Reuters, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Pro Publica ( ) – Allegations: Violation of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; corrupting public officials; dealing with junket operators who are not licensable; illegal transfers of money from Macau to Las Vegas
2011 GAMING HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES: BLUE MAN GROUP, CHARLIE PALMER, SHELDON ADELSON, BILL EADINGTON