The AGEM Index remained flat in the first month of 2015 when compared with December 2014, moving from a composite index of 181.84 to 181.89. The latest period represents the first month the AGEM Index has not reported a month-to-month decline since August 2014. Compared to a year ago, the index fell 1.96 points (-1.1 percent). The AGEM Index has now reported annual declines for four consecutive months.
In January 2015, half of the 14 global gaming equipment suppliers reported month-to-month gains in stock price, with two up by more than 20 percent. However, these gains were offset by the remaining seven suppliers reporting monthly declines in stock price. In addition, four reported declines of more than 5 percent.
The broader stock markets continued to report month-to-month declines in January 2015. NASDAQ ended the month at 4,637.99, which represents a decline of 2.1 percent when compared with the prior month. The S&P 500 followed, falling 3.1 percent from 2,058.90 to 1,994.99. The Dow Jones Industrial Average reported the greatest decline of the three major indices, falling 3.7 percent to 17,164.95.
Selected positive contributors to the January 2015 AGEM Index included the following:
• Ainsworth Game Technology (AGI) contributed 1.37 points, due to a 25 percent increase in stock price to AU$2.95.
• Crane Co. (CR) reported a stock price of $60.95 (+3.8 percent) and contributed 1.22 points.
• With a stock price of AU$7.02 (+7.0 percent), Aristocrat Technologies (ALL) contributed 1.10 points.
Selected negative contributors included the following:
• GTECH S.p.A. (GTK) contributed negative 2.97 points, due to a 5.9 percent decline in stock price to €17.40.
• Due to a 1.9 percent decline in stock price to $16.92, International Game Technology (IGT) contributed negative 0.71 points.
• With a stock price of $11.81 (-7.2 percent), Scientific Games Corporation (SGMS) contributed negative 0.64 points.
The world’s largest gaming market, Macau, has been facing year-over-year declines in gross gaming revenue since June 2014, and in December the region witnessed a record 30.4 percent year-over-year drop. As a result, Macau gaming revenues in 2014 totaled $44.1 billion, which represents a decline of 2.6 percent from the record $45.2 billion reported in 2013. Before 2014, gaming revenues in Macau had not reported a year-over-year decline since companies from the United States began operating in the Chinese Special Administrative Region in 2003.
The gaming market in Macau is off to a sluggish start in 2015 as well. In January, gross gaming revenues reported a decline for the eighth consecutive month when they fell 17.4 percent compared to January 2014, and gaming analysts expect the trend to continue in February. The latest trends are primarily attributable to a decline in VIP gamblers, many of whom were allegedly affected by the Chinese government’s recent attempts to eliminate corruption.
Macau’s gaming market could face a positive turn in the second half of 2015 as two properties are expected to open in Cotai in the coming months. In an effort to diversify their revenue base and attract more visitors, these properties will increase their focus on non-gaming amenities and family-oriented activities.
Melco Crown will be opening its $3.2 billion Studio City in the summer of 2015. In addition to more than 1,500 gaming machines, the Hollywood-themed property will offer a 1,600-room, two-tower hotel, restaurants, a nightclub, a 5,000-seat entertainment center and a 300,000-square-foot mall. In addition, the resort will include a virtual-reality Batman-themed ride and a 30,000-square-foot facility for family entertainment that will feature characters from Warner Bros. and DC Comics. Studio City will also be home to the Golden Eye, which at 426 feet will be Asia’s highest observation wheel.
Galaxy Entertainment is spending more than $7.4 billion to expand Galaxy Macau, which will include a re-creation of New York’s Broadway theater district. The expansion is expected to open in May 2015 and will double the size of the property to include six hotels with 4,000 rooms. The resort will also add more than 1,000 gaming machines, an entertainment district, new restaurants, bars and lounges, 200 retail stores and a 3,000-seat Broadway Theater.
Additional casino openings in 2016 should also provide opportunities in Macau. Las Vegas Sands plans to open its $2.7 billion Parisian with 3,000 rooms, 2,500 slot machines and replicas of Paris landmarks. Also, Wynn Resorts will complete its $4.1 billion Wynn Palace with 1,700 hotel rooms and 1,000 slots, and MGM China will open its $2.9 billion MGM Cotai with 1,600 rooms and 2,500 slots.
Upcoming casino openings and expanded offerings are expected to contribute to an evolving gaming market in Macau, while providing opportunities for gaming equipment suppliers.