Las Vegas Sands to open big bet on Asian gambling
Developer Las Vegas Sands Corp. and its chairman, Sheldon Adelson, have created ambitious casino-resorts in the past, but none quite like Marina Bay, which industry observers—and Mr. Adelson himself—are comparing with iconic regional landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Towers. Analysts say Marina Bay, which opens Tuesday, could become the world's most lucrative casino.
Quote: pacomartinWith a floating garden that overlooks Singapore's glitzy waterfront from about 200 meters in the air, the Marina Bay Sands is an architectural showstopper. It is also a massive $5.7 billion bet on the future of Asian gambling.
Developer Las Vegas Sands Corp. and its chairman, Sheldon Adelson, have created ambitious casino-resorts in the past, but none quite like Marina Bay, which industry observers—and Mr. Adelson himself—are comparing with iconic regional landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Towers. Analysts say Marina Bay, which opens Tuesday, could become the world's most lucrative casino.
I saw this featured on one of the Discovery chanel shows. I believe it was "Build It Bigger".
The part of the show that got to me was a concern about DJs. They said that if there was a party with a DJ on that cantiliever observation deck, and the DJ played music with a certain frequency range, that there is a concern for structural damage.
this looks like its from a video game or some sci-fi movie not real life.
Quote: DJTeddyBearThe part of the show that got to me was a concern about DJs. They said that if there was a party with a DJ on that cantilever observation deck, and the DJ played music with a certain frequency range, that there is a concern for structural damage.
Mechanical engineers are pretty concerned about resonant frequencies. They build things to avoid the possibilities. Besides most music is at much too high a frequency to bother something as big as that deck.
Every engineer in the world knows that resonant frequencies just keep increasing in amplitude.
Actually I think it was shown in the show. that might explain it.
The entire hour episode is devoted to this building.Quote: DJTeddyBearI saw this featured on one of the Discovery channel shows. I believe it was "Build It Bigger".
It WAS Build It Bigger, and it's gonna be on again tonight, in about two hours. 10:00pm Eastern (7pm Wiz of Vegas time) on Discovery's Science Channel.
Quote: CroupierTotally off topic, but does the video in Paco's last post make anyone else think of the Mythbusters episode with the army march?
Actually I think it was shown in the show. that might explain it.
It must have been. "Galloping Gertie" is the classic example of resonant frequencies causing a disaster. Now, while I remember the Mythbusters show in question (the myth itself was "breakstep bridge"), I can't recall for certain whether or not they showed the clip of the Tacome narrows going down.
But then as destruction and mayhem go, the guys have done worse. Perhaps not on the scale of a bridge, but in a cumulative fashion they win hands down.
Ok. I'll do a Mythbusters thread later. I think they should tackle Vgeas myths.
Engineers are pretty savvy about canceling out resonant frequencies in bridges today. The uniform marching is a relic of the past (even if they still do it). But the bit about it being extremely loud still makes sense.
The military (like the FAA) holds on to things for an incredibly long period of time. In WW2 they did a lot of stuff with divers in shallow water getting bombed. If you can get your head out of the water or at least near the surface you have a much better chance of the not getting knocked out by the shock wave and surviving. You may still have internal bleeding in your abdomen, but at least you will be conscious. It's still in the safety manuals, but the odds of being in a conflict with planes dropping small bombs on you is almost zero today.
Russia was even worse. Up until the 1980's they still didn't show picture of bridges in their schoolbooks because it violated military security precautions that had been established in WWI. I figure most invaders would like at their satellite data instead of schoolbooks.
You could make an argument that the venues in Asia will broaden the market and lead some to travel to Las Vegas. I'm skeptical though because the presence of decent gambling in Henderson makes me much less likely to trek to the Strip 10 miles away, much less go on a junket to the other side of the world.
Quote: nyuhoosierI think this, along with Macau, bodes ill for Las Vegas. Asian gamblers playing baccarat are the only thing keeping the large Strip casinos above water. Every other part of the floor is generally down.
You could make an argument that the venues in Asia will broaden the market and lead some to travel to Las Vegas. I'm skeptical though because the presence of decent gambling in Henderson makes me much less likely to trek to the Strip 10 miles away, much less go on a junket to the other side of the world.
I think so. City Center pales in comparison with that casino in Singapore. Right now Sands Corporation makes more casino revenue than the strip table revenue. With Singapore opening, and their planned Cotai strip mega resort opening next year, their corporate gaming revenue will soon surpass the Vegas strip, and it will be 85%-90% in Asia in two years (currently over 70%). MGM MIRAGE, and Harrah's are all thinking about what their next move will be. Possibly Vietnam, Taiwan's offshore islands, or Korea. Possibly Cheju Do island.
Steve Wynn makes 4 times the gaming revenue in his one hotel in Macau as he does with combined Wynn/Encore in Vegas (and it only has 1/10) of the rooms. I think he has lost money in Vegas for 9 business quarters in a row.
In the meantime the proliferation of slot clubs, online gaming, and Indian Gaming, is snipping away on the other end.
Quote:Casino billionaire and GOP super-donor Sheldon Adelson made a rare public appearance Thursday as the lead witness against a Hong Kong businessman who is suing his company for $328 million.
Quote:In recent years, a series of former business associates have sued Sands for a portion of the soaring profits from the Chinese gambling enclave of Macau.
One such businessman, Richard Suen, claims he made it possible for the casino company to win a license in Macau by arranging meetings between executives and Beijing officials in 2001. Sands lawyers say those meetings didn't help the company, because licenses are distributed by official in Macau, not on the mainland.
Quote:Sands' lawyers have sought to limit media access to the mogul's testimony. The team brought in Harvard professor Alan Dershowitz, a renowned advocate for open court proceedings, to help argue that press photos of Adelson's day in court could threaten the 79-year-old billionaire's security. That argument was overruled.
On Wednesday, the first day of the trial, Sands attorneys said the clicking sound of a photographer's shutter could prejudice the jury by highlighting portions of testimony.
A bailiff also made several reporters to turn off their digital recorders, which are generally allowed during court proceedings. Adelson's testimony was expected to last at least two days.
Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/us/article/Casino-mogul-testifies-in-Vegas-in-contract-suit-4409957.php#ixzz2PWyzFeJd
