Cambodian casino operator NagaCorp managed to turn a tidy profit in the first half of 2020 despite being forced to close for the entire second quarter.
Figures released Thursday show the Hong Kong-listed NagaCorp generated revenue of US$377.5m in the six months ending June 30, a 57.6% decline from the same period last year. Operating profit tumbled nearly 86% to $39.3m while after-tax profits plunged 91.6% to $20.6m.
Cambodia’s government ordered all casinos to shut as of April 1 due to the spread of COVID-19. The shutdown lasted until early July, when NagaCorp began welcoming VIP gamblers back to its NagaWorld casino in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh, and mass market gambling resumed later that month.
The lengthy shutdown resulted in VIP gambling turnover falling by more than 58% while the VIP win rate was unchanged at 2.8%, resulting in VIP revenue also falling 58% to $270.9m.