Aristocrat Denies Poker Machines Problems in Macau

On June 4th, 2008, poker machine manufacturer Aristocrat Leisure has rebuffed claims that it is currently facing a problem on how to improve their poker machine sales in Macau because most gamblers that frequent the former colony prefer to play baccarat. Speaking at the G2E Asia conference, CEO Paul O'Neil commented that players in Macau like the game and is expected to become regular gamblers of the poker machines.

Profit from the poker machines accounted for the five percent to six percent overall gambling turnover in Macau but was expected to improved to around twenty percent within the next five years. The remainder of the total turnover is from baccarat, which is the most well-liked game in majority of the casinos in Macau. Aristocrat supplies 60 percent of the poker machines in the market or around six thousand poker machines.

Some analysts commented that the total number of the poker machines will improve from ten thousand slot machines to thirty-five slot machines in the next three years. The predicted increase in poker machines customers was announced during the presentations of Wynn Resorts and the Las Vegas Sands at the G2E gaming conference.

O'Neil said that the chances for improved poker machines ales is relatively high in response to Mark Yoseloff's comments that he is worried that some casinos in Macau have been removing their poker machines in their gambling areas. Yoseloff is the head of poker machine manufacturer Shuffle Master. The Crown Macau facility is one of the casino facilities that have taken off some of their 350 machines in their gaming area to make more room for the baccarat gambling table.

O'Neil commented that while some gaming establishments had poker machines stored in warehouses, the demand for the machines is now outgrowing the present supply. Oneile said that the Venetian Casino and the Wynn Macau had recently taken out their extra poker machines to meet the growing demand for the game. He added that they expect that the turnover for poker machines could account for about thirty percent of the overall gambling turnover of Macau.

Author: Jeremy Evans
June 22, 2008