Month: April 2024

Citigroup’s latest spot-check survey of Macau premium mass gaming tables showed that the quality of players was “holding up” in March, which the institution described as a “normal month” without long holiday breaks.

Overall, Citigroup stated market-wide wager observed for the March survey was HKD10.0 million (US$1.3 million), or 73 percent up on March 2023.

The number of premium mass players seen was 482, a rise of 71 percent year-on-year. This month’s average wager per player was HKD20,817, “marginally higher” than March 2023’s HKD20,539.

“This implies that the quality of players we saw remains largely unchanged year-on-year,” wrote analysts George Choi and Ryan Cheung.

“More importantly,” in their view, the latest survey was “on a normal Friday, not a long weekend or major holiday, and our estimated wager per player holds up well versus surveys conducted in the past several normal [non-holiday] months.”

Citigroup suggested Wynn Macau Ltd – operator of Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace – was market-share leader in its March survey, with 25 percent of observed wager amounts, though the institution was “surprised” by MGM China Holdings Ltd’s estimated 21 percent share, and third place.

“The gaming volumes that we saw at MGM Cotai” in the March survey – circa HKD1.09 million, distributed across 50 players – “were comparable to that of Chinese New Year 2024,” said Mr Choi and Mr Cheung.

“It seems players like the newly renovated high-limit area there,” they added. MGM China also runs MGM Macau in downtown Macau.

The ‘player of the month” seen in the survey, “placed a HKD400,000 bet at the Supreme room at the other MGM casino [MGM Macau] on the peninsula,” stated the analysts.

Citigroup said MGM China had at MGM Macau deployed “two more baccarat tables with insurance bet options,” and the institution had seen a customer playing like a financial-markets “option trader”, via an insurance bet at 10 to 1 payout ratio after the player had made an initial HKD3,000 bet on ‘banker’.

At MGM Cotai, Citigroup said it was “surprised” to have “observed HKD1 million in total premium mass wager… for the second consecutive month,” despite March not being a Chinese-mainland holiday season.

Bill Hornbuckle, chief executive and president of MGM China’s parent, MGM Resorts International, had said during the group’s recent fourth-quarter earnings call, that MGM China “broke through 20 percent” market share barrier in January.

Mr Hornbuckle had further stated: “I’m not suggesting that’s sustainable, but I will tell you, I think we have repositioned those two properties and we’re prepared to compete on an equal basis with anybody in the marketplace.”

In Citigroup’s commentary on operational trends noticed in the market for the March survey, the institution said Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd had made its Qi Long club at City of Dreams “a semi-open area, while designating the Dragon Palace as the only members-only premium mass room at that property”.

The analysts further noted: “Both rooms looked a lot busier compared to our previous visits.”

Lawrence Ho Yau Lung, chairman and chief executive of Melco Resorts, had mentioned on the group’s fourth-quarter earnings call, that the company had made some changes to its gaming business, following a loss of 2023 share in terms of earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation.

Citigroup’s March survey observed that at Sands China Ltd’s Venetian Macao, also on Cotai: “The crowd we saw at the Venetian high-limit area was a little lighter than usual.”

BY: 우리카지노탑

The average nightly room rate in February for a Macau five-star hotel was MOP1,732.3 (US$215.05), just 5.4 percent lower than the same month in 2019, when it had been MOP1,832.1, according to the latest monthly data from Macau Hotel Association, published via the local tourism authority’s website.

Most of Macau’s five-star hotels are housed within casino resorts.

The average rate for that category in February – a month that included the latest Chinese New Year holiday – also represented a 28.5 percent increase year-on-year, the association’s data show.

That level’s February occupancy rate averaged 90.9 percent, which was 13.7 percentage points up year-on-year.

The lunar calendar-based Chinese New Year holiday in 2023 had been in January.

The association’s report does not indicate the base number of guest rooms used to calculate its monthly room rate and occupancy data. Currently the association has in aggregate, 27 five-star hotels, 12 four-star hotels, and 7 three-star hotels as members.

The average room rate calculated in aggregate across the five-star, four-star and three-star categories in February was MOP1,544.9, a 28.4 percent year-on-year increase, according to the report. The February average occupancy rate aggregated across those tiers was 89.7 percent, as compared to 77.7 percent a year ago.

As of the February report, the association had more five-star hotels in its member roster versus the same month in 2019, when there were 21 such establishments.

BY: 릴게임사이트

“Who wants to take the Ferraza passport?”

“You’re the most impressive foreign hitter since Jay Davis.”

Fans of the Hanwha Eagles were excited. After losing the opening game, Hanwha Eagles became the sole winner thanks to its seven consecutive wins. It is the first time in 32 years that Hanwha has won seven games in eight games since the 1992 season. Some fans even said, “This could lead to 10 consecutive wins.”

At the center of Hanwha’s initial craze is Jonathan Peraza, a 26-year-old hitter who is not from Venezuela. Despite being 175 centimeters tall, he is short for a foreign player, but he has been driving his team to victory by banking on his robust physical strength and flexibility. Among female fans, she is praised for being cute, but baseball is a great player.

As of Tuesday, Peraza had a batting average of 0.529, ranking second overall after Chung. His on-base percentage was 0.583, while his on-base percentage (OPS) was 1.617, a gap between him and his team. He hit a two-run homer in the third inning in Game 3 against KT on April 31, thus tying for first with Choi Jeong (SSG) and Rojas (KT). “He is doing better than expected,” Hanwha manager Choi Won-ho said.

When signing a contract with Hanwha in November last year, Peraza filled the $1 million contract limit for KBO foreign players, including $200,000 in down payment, $600,000 in annual salary, and $200,000 in options. While most of the foreigners who come to KBO have major league experience, Peraza only has minor league experience. Nevertheless, it was steadily growing and receiving attention from domestic clubs. Last season, he played for Iowa, a Triple-A club under the Chicago Cubs, and was released as a FA without receiving a call-up, but when several clubs hesitated to review Peraza’s defense, Hanwha actively called for the maximum amount and caught Peraza.

Noh Si-hwan, KBO home run king and teammate, predicted the success of Peraza early on. Just by watching the video of Peraza’s play last winter, he was confident that he would do well. The swing speed is very fast but the swing is short, which makes a strong impact when he hits the ball. In particular, Noh Si-hwan evaluated that his batting eye was okay. At the media day held on the eve of the opening, Noh said, “Playing Peraza is too stable. Lotte Victor Reyes also looks good, but not Peraza.”

As the season begins, people say, “Roh Si-hwan’s assessment was accurate.” Usually, foreign hitters who come to the KBO show weaknesses in breaking balls during the adaptation period, but Peraza aims at breaking balls rather than others. When he hit his first and second consecutive homeruns of the season against LG on the 23rd of last month, he also targeted changeups and curves. Experts say that Peraza does not easily follow the bat on the breaking ball, and his ability to hit straight hits is outstanding. With his strength, he is fast at batting, he actively plays base running, and his outfield defense not bad, some fans already say, “This time, he succeeded in drawing a dragon bottle.”

Of course, some critics say we should wait and see as the season is in its infancy. However, it is clear that the current pace is overwhelming. Some Hanwha fans say that if he continues as he is now, he will surpass J. Davis. Jay Davis, considered the best foreign hitter in the history of the Hanwha Eagles, recorded a batting average of 0.313 and an OPS of 0.916 in 836 games from 1999 to 2006 (excluding 2003), and led the team to win its first championship since its foundation in 1999. Experts say that as the season continues, the key is how to overcome the situation when analysis, checks, and attacks on the player come in.

Amid strong batting performances by starting pitchers and starting pitchers, the Hanwha Eagles will seek its 10th consecutive win in 25 years. Hanwha, which recorded eight consecutive wins in June last year, will hold three consecutive home games against Lotte from Friday. If it sweeps the series against Lotte, which suffered a slump in the beginning of this season, it will re-enact its 10th consecutive win in the 1999 season, which it won the Korean Series, in 25 years.

If Ryu wins the first and second games of the three consecutive games, his team legend Ryu Hyun-jin is expected to start the third game on Saturday, when he is aiming for 10 consecutive wins. If he wins the game again, he could have 10 consecutive wins for the first time in 25 years, and Ryu’s 99th career win in the KBO. To do so, hitters such as Peraza and Roh Si-hwan should continue the current pace.

BY: 토토사이트링크

The popularity and influence of “Awesome Kim” Kim Ha-sung (29) of the San Diego Padres were beyond imagination. Beyond simply becoming role models for Korean baseball players, he has also become an idol that impresses Asian Americans who were underprivileged.

KGTV, a local broadcaster in San Diego, California, said on March 29, “Kim Ha-sung’s success is inspiring young Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI).”

It is clear that Kim Ha-sung is enjoying a lot of popularity among San Diego fans. Even if you watch local broadcasts in the U.S., “Ha-sung Kim” chant continues whenever Kim Ha-sung enters the batter’s box and produces results.

This was confirmed at the 2024 regular season game between the San Diego Padres and the San Francisco Giants on March 31. Lee Jung-hoo hit a superior solo shot off Tom Cosgrove as the lead-off hitter at the top of the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres on Sunday. It was his first four-base hit in three games after he made his Major League debut after signing a six-year, 113 million-dollar contract with the San Francisco Giants.

Lee’s first homerun in the Major League Baseball was easier than expected in exchange for three autographed balls and a hat. Interestingly, Lee’s family picked up Lee’s homerun ball and his son was a San Diego fan who moved to San Diego from the Bay Area, where he is based in San Francisco. “I’ll tell you my story later (Ha Sung Kim) as I’m having dinner with him.”

It may not be surprising to hear that San Diego children’s fans say they like Kim Ha-sung, who has recently become popular. However, according to a report by KGTV, Kim Ha-sung’s influence was greater than expected.

KGTV said, “Kim Ha-sung is loved by young baseball players playing in the San Diego area, and according to those youth players, Kim Ha-sung represents a new possibility for the AAPI community.” He added, “Young players and their parents feel that Kim Ha-sung is changing the game for them (against minorities) both on and off the field.”

I could feel that in interviews with players. Joshua Asuncion, an amateur baseball player, said, “Kim Ha-sung is an Asian player like me. His performance makes the Asian community want to see him play and follow in his footsteps.”

“I felt like I was a minority,” said Aoshima Kazuki, a youth baseball player. “To me, Major League Baseball feels like a very inclusive sport, and I don’t think anyone discriminates. Someday, as an Asian player, I want to be one of those people (such as Kim Ha-sung) and play with players from all over the world, regardless of race.” Aoshima’s mother, Anbo, also said, “It is proud to see players like Kim Ha-sung, who look like us as minorities, play at the top of the table. Their play makes their son watch TV and see them aspire and try as they do.”

Kim Ha-sung joined the Major League in 2021 after signing a four-year contract worth 28 million U.S. dollars with the San Diego Padres through the posting system. He didn’t get much popularity from the beginning. In his first year as a backup infielder, he recorded a batting average of 0.202 with eight homers and 34 RBIs with an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.622 in 117 games, which had many negative expectations towards the end of the 2021 season.

However, even San Diego Padres President A.J. Preller, who had been watching and scouting Kim Ha-sung for a long time, showed surprisingly better-than-expected growth. In 2022, when he played as the starting shortstop due to Fernando Tatis Jr.’s shoulder injury and illegal drug punishment, he showed an improvement with a batting average of 0.251 with 11 homers, 59 RBIs, 58 runs and 12 steals, and an OPS of 0.708. Notably, he was one of the three finalists for the Gold Glove Shortstop category in the National League in defense.

It was the Los Angeles Dodgers and the 2022 National League Division Series that stole the hearts of San Diego fans, although Kim Ha-sung had been gradually gaining popularity through stellar defense and aggressive defense. In the same year, the San Diego Padres (89 wins and 73 losses) advanced to the Championship Series by beating the Los Angeles Dodgers (111 wins and 51 losses) in the Division Series. The result was unexpected for the San Diego Padres, which lost all six of their regular-season showdowns.

In particular, Kim Ha-sung played a decisive role in the come-from-behind victory by hitting a timely RBI double on the left-field line in the bottom of the seventh inning of Game 4 of the NLDS with San Diego trailing 1-3. At this time, the scene where Kim Ha-sung reached second base and roared was also posted on the official major league website MLB.com highlights, which enjoyed a lot of popularity.

Last year was a career-high season. Having won the Gold Glove Utility Award in the National League, he became an indispensable player who can sign a contract worth 100 million U.S. dollars as an All-Star in ball and field with a batting average of 0.260 with 17 homers, 60 RBIs, 84 runs scored with 38 stolen bases and an OPS of 0.749. In response, Freller told reporters at the Seoul Series on April 17, “When I scouted Kim Ha-sung, I expected him to become a good player in both defense and offense. However, I realized that we underestimated him at the first spring camp since joining the team.”

“Kim Ha-sung is getting better and better every year in every aspect. He has become an influential defender not only in our team but also in the Major League Baseball. This is evidenced by his winning Gold Glove award last year. Notably, his defense exceeded our expectations early on,” he praised.

He is still showing stellar performance this season, which could be his last one in the San Diego Padres. On the same day, Kim Ha-sung sent the San Diego Padres into a frenzy. At the 2024 Major League regular season game against San Francisco at Petco Park, Kim started as the fifth batter and shortstop, and garnered three hits (one homer) and three RBIs, one walks, three strikeouts, and three runs from four times at bat, spearheading his team’s 13-4 victory. He significantly raised his batting average for this season from 0.167 to 0.273.

They are fully aware of what kind of influence they have and move responsibly.

BY: 토토사이트