The measures taken by the government to avoid the uncontrolled growth of casinos in Macau aims to prevent a repetition of the situation that occurred in 2008 when due to the financial crisis several projects were abandoned and workers lost their jobs. By building new casinos consecutively instead of simultaneously, unemployment is prevented.

“They’re trying to manage growth in a healthy way,” Las Vegas Sands CEO Mike Leven commented. “They’re probably not going to allow them all to be built at once. When one gets built and gets close to opening, they’ll allow the next one to start construction, and it will open after the existing property ramps up.”

On 2nd December Sands China Ltd. informed that the government rejected an application submitted by the company to build on Cotai sites 7 and 8. The company is still evaluating appealing this decision. Sands’ founder and CEO Sheldon Adelson continues with his expansion plans in Macau, where his company already operates the Sands Macao, Venetian Macao and the Four Seasons casino resorts.

Las Vegas Sands is building the St. Regis, Shangri-La, Sheraton and Traders resorts. In 2008 the company was forced to stop construction works due to the financial crisis and Adelson had to invest more than $1 billion of his family money. The company also owns site 3 where it will build more hotel casinos.