Richard Branson Betting on Macau

January 27, 2007

Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group is close to securing a 20-hectare site in Macau to build a US$3 billion ($4.3 billion) casino complex which could add to the city's rise as the world's gambling capital, a newspaper reported yesterday.

The flamboyant British entrepreneur whose business empire ranges from airlines to music and mobile phones, is close to acquiring the site in the Chinese special administrative region, the Financial Times reported.

"We hope to get all the boxes ticked in the next couple of months and start developing the site soon afterwards," Branson was quoted by the paper as saying.

The paper said Branson had held talks with Macau's leader, Chief Executive Edmund Ho, on Wednesday to try and confirm arrangements for the planned entertainment complex featuring three hotels and a casino, which could open as soon as 2010.

Macau recently dethroned Las Vegas as the world's biggest gambling centre, with some analysts predicting its gambling market could more than double to $14 billion in revenue by 2010.


Two of the world's top gaming firms, the Las Vegas Sands Corp and Wynn Resorts Ltd have already built mega-casinos in Macau and other world-class competitors including MGM Mirage are due to pile in later this year.

From : EOG.com, Canada

Now everyone wants a bit of the biscuit

Now everyone wants a bit of the biscuit

I couldnt agree more.

Looks like Richard Branson has a big plan in his mind
http://macaudailyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/sir-richard-branson.jpg

Tabcorp linked to Macau casino deal

Monday, 29 January 2007

SYDNEY: Australian wagering firm Tabcorp Holdings may join Britain's Virgin Group in building and running a $US3 billion ($NZ4.36b) casino in Macau, southern China, the Australian Financial Review has said.


Tabcorp, Australia's largest gaming group, is in advanced talks with Virgin over the planned casino, which the paper said would be the most expensive to date in Macau, a former Portuguese territory already home to a large gambling industry.

A spokeswoman for Virgin, owned by British entrepreneur Richard Branson, told the paper nothing had been decided.

Tabcorp's head of casino business had said earlier this month that he was sceptical about a recent rush to build casinos in Macau and that it was best for Tabcorp to be a follower rather than a leader, the report added.

Recently-listed Melco PBL Entertainment (Macau) Ltd – a joint venture of Australian media firm Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd and Hong Kong firm Melco International Development Ltd – is planning to build three casinos in Macau.

So how does this work? I thought only a certain amount of "licenses" to build gambling casinos were won out... namely Stanley Ho, Sands Corp., and Wynn. I know other gambling corporations have made deals with these primary three to build on the backs of their licenses. Is Richard Branson working on a new license or is he dealing with one of the primary three?

Virgin is likely to seek for a venture with the six concessionaires and sub-concessionaires of Macau's casino operations to run the business.

source (http://macau.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2007/1/26/2684247.html)

More news coming through about the proposed Virgin deal with Tabcorp, and that Tabcorp are a likely take-over target with PBL. This all makes sense as Melco/PBL have a gaming license in Macau and so their partnership with Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group would be a perfect fit.

Add to this the fact that PBL is very cashed up, this deal could just well go through!

Speculation emerged yesterday that Tabcorp is set to become the next target of a corporate takeover, with James Packer’s Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd seen as the most likely predator.

Investment bank Citigroup told clients yesterday speculation “abounds that Tabcorp is next to go” in a deal potentially worth up to $10 billion.(US$7.8 billion?

Source (http://http://macaudailyblog.com/macau-casino/pbl-to-take-over-tabcorp/)

Will Virgin Galactica build a spaceport in this resort ???

Will Virgin Galactica build a spaceport in this resort ???

it would be great :D

Will Virgin Galactica build a spaceport in this resort ???

I would not be surprised, the site is big enough and US$3 billion goes a long way! :)

Will Virgin Galactica build a spaceport in this resort ???

I would not be surprised, the site is big enough and US$3 billion goes a long way! :)

double post. Delete it please.

Australian Tabcorp Holdings is as they failed to reach a deal no longer talking with with Richard Branson’s Virgin Group on plans to develop a US$3 billion casino in Macau.

It is still understood that Virgin is still talking to other potential partners on plans to build and run a casino and resort development in Macau.

Another source said Virgin was still talking to a number of other potential partners on the development in Macau, which is already home to a large gambling industry.

Sources had said last month that Virgin and Tabcorp were in talks on the casino project. Tabcorp had expected to play a major role in developing and operating the project, which would have retained the Virgin brand.

Tabcorp owns four of Australia’s 13 casinos and is looking for growth opportunities after its former takeover target, UNiTAB, merged with Australian lottery operator Tattersall’s Ltd.

source (http://macaudailyblog.com/macau-casino/virgin-and-tabcorp-will-be-a-no-go/)