Macao casinos see their worst year

A tourist looks at the bus stop board on Macao's main avenue, San Man Lo, Dec 6, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

Experts had predicted that growth in the VIP segment, which accounts for two-thirds of Macao's gaming industry revenues, would be limited by the continued focus on corruption.

Revenues hit a record $45 billion in 2013, official figures showed.

Xi, on a visit to Macao last month, said the territory should diversify away from casinos.

"Macao is now entering into a period of consolidation," said gaming expert Ben Lee of iGamiX in Macao.

"Casinos will now have to turn to real marketing and operational efficiencies to drive profitability," he said.

Lee predicted that the slowing trend will continue into the second quarter of this year until casinos open proposed expansions, which would stimulate the industry.

Casino operators have plans to expand their operations on the Cotai Strip, a former swamp that is being reclaimed and transformed into mass-market resorts.

Macao overtook Las Vegas as the world's casino capital in terms of revenue after the sector was opened to foreign competition in 2002, and it now enjoys gambling revenues multiple times that of the city in the United States.