LOS ANGELES— Steve Wynn reports that while several parties have contacted him about signing on as partners to his planned casino in Macau, it is too early to say if he will work with any of them, according to Reuters. Wynn, former chairman of Mirage Resorts, which is now part of MGM Mirage, was one of three parties recently awarded licenses to build casinos in Macau, a former Portuguese colony that is now part of China. The other two licenses went to the parent company of the Venetian resort in Las Vegas, and to Stanley Ho, holder of the current monopoly in the territory. Wynn said he has been approached by “maybe 11 people” about his plans, but that it is too early to discuss potential partnerships, and that he remains focused on signing a contract with gaming authorities in Macau. Wynn said he envisions spending $500 million to $800 million on the project. Wynns receipt of the Macau license corresponds roughly with his plans to start construction of his newest Las Vegas project, a $1.65 billion casino called Le Reve on the site of the old Desert Inn, which he recently imploded. Wynn said he expects to submit his final budget for Le Reve to his investment banker in about a week. Funding through a combination of bonds and bank loans should take another six to eight weeks to secure, Wynn said. Depending on how the two projects develop, they could eventually be combined into a single company, he added. Reuters
