Marina Bay Sands' Q4 earnings slide on weaker VIP gaming

Singapore

A SLUMP in VIP play at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) has dragged fourth-quarter Ebitda (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) down 20.8 per cent to US$362 million from a year ago.

Lower casino rolling chip volume - which typically refers to VIP play - tumbled 13.9 per cent from the same period a year earlier to US$6.8 billion in the three months ended Dec 31. Total casino revenue slipped 17.6 per cent to US$500 million, as a 0.9 per cent or US$4.68 million increase in the mass win-per-day for non-rolling tables and slots failed to make up for the fall in VIP visitors.