Casino News

Expert sceptical about Cirque du Soleil in Macau

2008-06-03 15:46:40

Cirque du Soleil's new show at Las Vegas Sands mega-resort the Venetian Macao may not help to boost the casino operator's profits.

At least this is what has been suggested by Credit Suisse's Gabriel Chan.

The industry analyst told the AFP that is "is questionable" as to whether people would choose to go to and watch the circus act as opposed to simply using the money for more gambling.

"How many mainland Chinese gamblers are going to spend 1,000 dollars on a Cirque du Soleil show rather than on the baccarat?" he said.

The debut of Cirque du Soleil at the Venetian is part of a new trend, which is seeing casinos in the area trying to develop their non-gambling sectors.

It is a process that has proven lucrative in Las Vegas, however, many believe it is responsible for recent revenue declines due to the credit crunch.

The latest figures from officials in Macau reveal that the former Portuguese colony continues to grow at an incredible rate.