SkyCity sets sights on high rollers from China

High-rolling punters from mainland China gambling at SkyCity in Auckland are up 33 per cent in the past six months. Photo / APN

High-rolling punters from mainland China gambling at SkyCity in Auckland are up 33 per cent in the past six months - and the casino is pulling out the stops to boost the market "many times over".

Last year, Macau casinos reported record takings of US$23.5 billion ($31.1 billion) - four times the revenues generated at the Las Vegas Strip - largely because of mainland Chinese punters. SkyCity says it is keen to lure some of these high-spending players here.

An agreement had been reached with Air New Zealand for priority access to ticketing and the casino is working with Immigration New Zealand to "fast-track" visas for "known players" from the mainland, said SkyCity's international business president, Ejaaz Dean.

In the five months ending in November, SkyCity's international business grew more than 100 per cent - with China topping the list, ahead of Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia. "Most of what's fuelling the growth are from mainland China," Mr Dean said.

Regional rivals, such as Singapore, which last year opened two glitzy casinos, are competing hard for the market, but SkyCity is undeterred.

"Sure, we have lost some of our Singaporean clients, who now prefer to gamble locally, and that's understandable. But we have a lot of things in New Zealand that Singapore cannot replicate," Mr Dean said.

"We have great golf courses here, we have great vineyards, and these are things that attract high-rollers here, rather than Singapore."

SkyCity had already been booked by 30 high-spending punters from China to spend Chinese New Year, which falls in early February, in Auckland rather than in Asia, Mr Dean said.

The gambling and entertainment company expects to have four dedicated private gaming rooms for high-rollers, up from one, by the middle of the year, and is also undertaking several facility upgrades at its hotels, restaurants and bars to ensure they are world class.

SkyCity is targeting a net profit of at least $127.4 million for the year to June.

Mr Dean said having a dedicated sales office in Singapore had helped in "redirecting" some of the high-value punters to New Zealand.

Macau's casinos last year cashed in 188.3 billion patacas ($31.1 billion), up from 119.3 billion patacas in 2009 - four times higher than the US$6 billion gamblers were expected to have spent on the Last Vegas Strip in 2010, Hong Kong-based brokerage CLSA told AFP.

Aaron Fischer, a CLSA gaming analyst, said Macau's revenue was largely driven by high-roller gamblers, including many wealthy Chinese tourists riding high on the country's surging economy.

Big spenders

1. China.
2. Thailand.
3. Singapore / Malaysia.
4. Australia.
5. Pacific Island nations.