MGM 'Expects' Green Light For Macau Casino

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MGM confident that it will be granted permission to open casino in Macau

The chief executive of MGM Resorts International has revealed that he remains confident the company will be given the go-ahead to open a $2.5 billion casino in Macau.

"I would expect we will be in the ground starting this year and keeping to our timetable to open this resort in late 2015," Jim Murren told Reuters.

And if MGM is given the green light for its plans, poker fans across Asia, Australia and the wider Pacific region are sure to be lured by the new casino.

Indeed, Macau recently hosted an Asia Poker Tour tournament that attracted the likes of Taiwan's Carlos Chang and Australia's Aaron Lim, who finished first and fourth respectively in the main event.

MGM's decision to target Macau for a new casino seems sensible given its rapid emergence as a gambling centre in recent years, and the region has now established itself as the world's largest gambling market in terms of revenue - even outstripping Las Vegas.