Sands Macao, a one million square foot casino and entertainment complex,
made history today by opening the first American operated gaming facility
in The People’s Republic of China’s SAR of Macao. Sands Macao is located in the one-time Portuguese colony of Macao on China’s southeastern coast. The luxurious new casino is set amid six acres of lush waterfront gardens and flanked by gold reflective windows.
‘‘The opening of Sands Macao represents the beginning of an exciting new
era for the people of Macao and a tremendous opportunity for Macao to
position itself as the entertainment destination of choice for the world’s
fastest growing economy and most populous country: the People’s Republic
of China,’’ said Sheldon G. Adelson, chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands,
Inc., parent company of Sands Macao and The Venetian in Las Vegas. ‘‘The
Macao government and Las Vegas Sands, Inc.‘s vision for Macao is bold and
ambitious, and today, working arm-in-arm, we have realised part of that
vision by opening a world-class entertainment complex at the doorstep of
the People’s Republic of China.’’

Sands Macao features a gaming area that will open with 277 table game
including 11 Paiza Club private VIP tables. Sands Macao will also open
with 405 slot machines. Gradually, Sands will add another 114 slots - each
specifically designed for the Asian market. Also included is the 300 foot
888 Las Vegas Buffet featuring Thai, Indian and Japanese food, as well as
six different regional Chinese cuisines, a Night Market dining in two
parts - Moonlight Food Market Noodle Shop & Moonlight Food Market Dai Pai
Dong and Xanadu Entertainment Bar. Later in the summer Sands will offer 51
luxurious suites, full service spa and salon, 8 restaurants, additional
bars and entertainment areas, and a 24-hour “Tea Terrace” - serving more
than 200 quality teas. The dining venues emphasise the most popular
regional cuisine and include a Cantonese restaurant, a Shanghai-style
restaurant, a Macanese restaurant, and a ‘‘Las Vegas-style” steakhouse.

‘‘Macao is on the verge of becoming the world’s top revenue-producing
gaming market,’’ said William Weidner, president and COO of Las Vegas
Sands, Inc. ‘‘Travel to Macao has increased explosively in recent years
and every indication is these numbers will continue to rise. With more
than three billion people within a five hour flight, Macao is poised to
become the gaming and leisure destination of choice for a significant part
of the world’s population.’’

Weidner said the strength of the Chinese economy clearly bodes well for
the future of Macao as a gaming and leisure destination. Weidner noted
China’s Gross Domestic Product has risen from US$422 billion in 1993 to
over US$1.4 trillion in 2003. In addition, Weidner cited statistics
showing Macao’s casino revenue rose from less than US$2 billion in 2000 to
US$3.6 billion in 2003 and could approach US$5 billion in 2004 - leaving
it only slightly behind Las Vegas in terms of casino revenue.

Sands Macao, the first stage of Las Vegas Sands Inc. development plans in
Macao, has several upscale touches designed to attract Asia’s premium
gaming guests. Like the legendary Chinese Emperor Kublai Khan’s venerable
Paiza - his personal pass to the riches of his empire - elite guests of
Sands Macao will discover the glitter and glamour of the Las Vegas Strip
matched with the incredible wealth and worldly sensibilities of the Orient.

The invitation-only Paiza memberships will allow VIP guests access to
private jets, limousine, helicopter, and jetfoil services, a 24-hour
concierge; private entrances, exclusive entertainment lounges, VIP
high-limit gaming areas, exclusive VIP gaming parlors for premium players,
cigar bars, wine tasting areas, and private dining.

The 51 premium suites that will open in July at Sands Macao range in size
from 1,000 square feet to 8,000 square feet. The suites include in-room
massage areas, in-room saunas, karaoke rooms, state of the art
entertainment centers with multiple plasma screen televisions and digital
surround sound, private plunge pools, butler service, access to hundreds
of premium teas, remote-controlled drapes, lighting, and audio-visual
equipment, custom hand- woven carpets, custom-designed furnishings and
lighting, and whirlpool Jacuzzis with panoramic views of Macao’s Outer
Harbour.
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