With Chinese President Xi Jinping unlikely to reverse the corruption crackdown that has hit Macau hard, investors in the world’s biggest gambling centre are looking to a more fanciful saviour: Batman.
Analysts are hoping the $19-a-ride Batman Dark Flight simulator and other theme park attractions at Melco Crown’s new $2.3bn Studio City casino will help wean Macau off its reliance on high rollers and transform it into a Las Vegas-style mass-market tourist destination.
“In 10 years of development, Macau has had top-class lodging and really nice gaming areas but it has always lacked good non-gaming attractions,” said Richard Huang, an analyst at Nomura, ahead of the opening of the new resort on October 27. “Everyone is hoping Studio City will kick-start growth in the mass market and if it turns out to be disappointing, share prices will fall.”