Galaxy woos big shoppers as Macau gaming slumps

Macau

AS Macau's gambling slump extends beyond a second year, the casino operator that's benefited the most from the city's decade-long focus on Chinese VIP gamblers is trying to woo a new breed of "very important persons" to prop up non-gaming revenue.

Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd is now rewarding big shoppers with free hotel stays and access to resort facilities, some of the perks once reserved for high-rolling gamblers.

"A VIP can be either a big gambler or a big shopper," said chief marketing officer Kevin Clayton. While high-stakes gamblers remain an important source of income in Macau, the company is redefining its VIP label, he said.

The move comes as Galaxy's operating margins shrink amid an outflow of high-end customers. While VIP gamblers from China helped Macau leapfrog Las Vegas to become the world's largest casino hub over the past decade, the segment has nosedived since 2014 as China President Xi Jinping's crackdown on corruption scared off the high-rollers. Macau has been trying to reinvent itsel…