Tourism Malaysia projects 16.1m tourist arrivals in Malaysia in 2023, up 60% from 10.1m in 2022.
This was among the factors Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad (Kenanga) maintains an overweight call on the gaming sector as leisure travel normalises post the pandemic.
It added there is still plenty of room for Malaysia’s tourist arrivals to rise as it makes up only 62% of the pre-pandemic peak of 26.1m in 2019.
Over the causeway, the Singapore Tourism Board expects a big jump in visitor arrivals to the island republic of 12m-14m this year over 4.7m recorded last year, underpinned by the return of international tourists, especially those from China.
Casinos to benefit
This should benefit casino operators GENM (OP; TP: RM3.56) and GENS (Not Rated), as well as their parent company GENTING (OP: TP: RM5.86).
Meanwhile, Kenanga projects ticket sales of number forecast operators (NFOs) to return to 90% of pre-pandemic levels by end-2023. Largely domestically-driven, their earnings are less directly exposed to external headwinds.
“Our top picks for the sector are Genting, being a proxy to the recovery of tourism in both Malaysia and Singapore, and SPTOTO (OP; TP: RM1.95) given its double-digit dividend yields,” said Kenanga in a research report today (March 29).
GENM will also benefit from the revival and rejuvenation of domestic leisure travel, as local visitors made up >80% of the total visitors to the Genting Highland’s resort prior to the pandemic. Meanwhile, GENS is set to draw more visitors over the next three months with the Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience exhibition, while a newly renovated Festive Hotel will be re-launched in May as a lifestyle destination hotel with 389 rooms.
Meanwhile, GENM’s operations in the UK and US have very much shrugged off the pandemic since 2021 with earnings having already recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Newly opened Resorts World Hudson Valley in Dec 2022, the newest casino in New York State, is expected to deliver its maiden contribution in FY23.
Recovery in ticket sales on track
There is a business continuity concern for operations of numbers forecast operators (NFO) in Selangor, Penang and Negri Sembilan in the event of a change in the state government post the state election, widely expected to be held in Jun 2023 (NFO operations have already been banned three other states due for the state election, i.e., Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah).
There is also concern over sustained high inflation eating into consumer disposable income affecting spending on betting games.
The good news is that NFO ticket sales are mainly domestically-driven and therefore less directly exposed to external headwinds.
In this light, Kenanga expects the ticket sales recovery to plateau at 80%-85% of pre-pandemic levels before slowly picking up to the 90% level by end-2023.
And, sees SPTOTO having a stronger recovery path with ticket sales returning to 87% of pre-pandemic level by FY23 (FYE: June) and 90% by FY24, given the potential boost from a spike in ticket sales of lotto games in the event their jackpots snowball, while MAGNUM (OP; TP: RM1.39) may only see its ticket sales recovering to 78%/80% of the pre-pandemic level by FY23/FY24 as they expect the return of its customers, predominantly in the older-age group, to be gradual.
Overall, Kenanga said it prefers SPTOTO to MAGNUM for the former’s stronger recovery of ticket sales and hence superior earnings.
Regulatory risk
Kenanga rates the risk of the casino and NFO licenses being revoked in Malaysia as low following the formation of the unity government.
Kenanga added that their top picks for the sector are GENTING, being a proxy to the recovery of tourism in both Malaysia and Singapore, and SPTOTO given its double-digit dividend yields.
