SL poised to become 'India's Macau,' says Melco chief at JKH's City of Dreams launch

POINTS AT MACAU, THE WORLD'S LARGEST GAMING MARKET AT APPROXIMATELY US$ 30BN A YEAR, AS A BENCHMARK FOR WHAT SRI LANKA COULD ACHIEVE BY CATERING TO THE VAST INDIAN MARKET INDIA, CHINA, RUSSIA, AND THE MIDDLE EAST IDENTIFIED AS KEY FEEDER MARKETS ROBUST REGULATORY FRAMEWORK WAS A PREREQUISITE FOR ATTRACTING A WORLD-CLASS OPERATOR SUCH AS MELCO SAYS JKH CHAIRPERSON

- By NISHEL FERNANDO

With the launch of the landmark City of Dreams Sri Lanka last Saturday, the nation is being positioned as a potential gaming and tourism hub for South Asia, with Melco Resorts & Entertainment Chairman and CEO, Lawrence Ho, drawing a powerful parallel: “Sri Lanka to India to be what Macau is to China.”

Speaking at a panel discussion marking the August 2, 2025, opening of South Asia’s first integrated resort, Ho highlighted the immense potential of the newly regulated gaming market in Sri Lanka. He pointed to Macau, the world’s largest gaming market at approximately US$ 30 billion a year, as a benchmark for what Sri Lanka could achieve by catering to the vast Indian market.

“Sri Lanka has the closest distance to have an authentic true integrated resort like this one,” Ho stated, emphasising the strategic advantage the country holds. He identified India, China, Russia, and the Middle East as key feeder markets, noting that Melco’s global network and experience in Cyprus, Macau and Philippines would help attract high-end travellers.