Marina Bay Sands Black-Lists Former Chief Casino Officer

In a shocking turn of events, Resorts World Sentosa chief casino officer Andrew MacDonald has been black-listed from his previous place of work with the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) after being issued a Persona Non-Grata Notice dated 31 July 2024. MacDonald shared the news publicly on social media, sending shockwaves through the gaming and hospitality sectors.

MacDonald Remains Highly Influential within the Industry

The reasons behind the issuance of the PNG notice remain opaque. However, inside sources claim that MBS believes MacDonald was poaching customers and staff during his multiple visits to the property late last month. He is currently the chief casino officer at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) and a director of Resorts World at Sentosa Pte Ltd.

MacDonald spent nearly 12 years in senior leadership roles with MBS, most recently as Corporate Senior Vice President and Chief Casino Officer, until his resignation late last year and eventual move to rival Resorts World Sentosa in early 2022. He is widely regarded as one of the sharpest analytical minds in the gaming industry and retains significant influence.

Imposing a PNG on a senior executive from a rival property is exceptionally rare within the casino resort business, even more so within Singapore’s tightly regulated casino duopoly. MacDonald held senior posts at MBS and RWS, a unique position that further complicates the situation and raises questions about the competitive dynamics between the two major integrated resorts.

MBS Did Not Offer an Official Explanation

The PNG notice explicitly prohibits MacDonald from entering any part of the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort, including the Hotel, Mall, Convention Center, and Casino. The ban is indefinite, with the notice stating that the MBS reserves the right to pursue legal action should MacDonald attempt to access the property.

MacDonald notes he visited MBS twice: on 22 July to have dinner at Tong Dim Noodle Bar and on 26 July, following the release of Las Vegas Sands’ Q2 2024 financial results. An MBS spokesperson emphasized that issuing a PNG is only undertaken after careful consideration. They added that the factors leading to such a decision were confidential, stoking further speculation.

“Restricting anyone from our premises is not a decision we take lightly. We have robust protocols to assess the merits of such action. The factors behind a decision of this nature are confidential.”

MBS statement

MacDonald has publicly denied the poaching charges. He claims that his visits to MBS were purely social as he accompanied his close friend Mike Sugrue, who was visiting from Australia. According to MacDonald, he did see two “high-value” players, but these were accidental meetings. As the situation unfolds, the industry will monitor how this unprecedented move will impact MacDonald’s career and the broader relationship between MBS and RWS.