Melco partners with Garena to bring eSports to Macau

MACAU, April 23, 2018 -- Melco Resorts & Entertainment (Nasdaq:MLCO) (“Melco”), has partnered with digital entertainment platform Garena to host the 2018 League of Legends Master Series (LMS) Spring Final at Studio City Macau. Realizing Melco’s mission to shape the future of entertainment, the LMS tournament was held in Macau yesterday for the first time as one of the enclave’s largest eSports events before an audience of 2,000.

On Sunday, 22 April 2018, Melco Resorts transformed its Studio City Event Center into a purpose-built eSports arena, convening 2,000 fans for the live League of Legends Master Series Spring Final. The world-class facility has previously hosted Madonna and GOT7 and boasts state-of-the-art acoustics, the latest in stage technology and cutting-edge satellite-broadcasting for live international transmissions.

Mr. Geoff Andres, Property President of Studio City Macau at Melco Resorts & Entertainment said, “We are always looking for fresh ideas to diversify the entertainment experience offered to our guests. In recent years, we have kept a close track of the increasing demand in Asia for new and unique tech-based entertainment, where eSports is now a fast-growing and major segment. We are excited by this partnership with Garena to bring the Legends Master Series Spring Final to Macau for the first time, where the event has raised the bar for destination sporting events in Cotai. In the mid-term, we look forward to further introducing highly innovative entertainment events to our customers in Macau as well as to tourists from around the region.”

Ben Lee, LMS eSports Manager of Garena, said, “League of Legends Master Series (LMS) is the highest level professional eSports tournament of the largest scale in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, though the past Spring and Summer finals were held only in Taiwan. We are grateful for the support offered from Studio City, allowing us to bring eSports closer to Macau’s enthusiasts. We hope the audience enjoyed the first-hand experience of the event; feeling the power and energy of eSports through the dynamic interactions between opposing teams. We look forward to the future development of eSports in Macau, as players continue to participate and pursue dreams to shine on the world stage.”

In recent years, eSports has emerged as a global phenomenon with rapid market growth and viewership. China accounts for over half of the global eSports audience, with the majority being aged 30 or below, an audience group which has generally been less represented in Macau’s tourism demographics. A diversified revenue stream encompassing media rights, advertising, publisher fees, sponsorship and ticketing further enhance market opportunities for eSports. Melco’s partnership with Garena is an example of how Macau continues to evolve as a multifaceted tourist destination in Asia.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited (the “Company”) may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not limited to, (i) growth of the gaming market and visitations in Macau and the Philippines, (ii) capital and credit market volatility, (iii) local and global economic conditions, (iv) our anticipated growth strategies, (v) gaming authority and other governmental approvals and regulations, and (vi) our future business development, results of operations and financial condition. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “target”, “aim”, “estimate”, “intend”, “plan”, “believe”, “potential”, “continue”, “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

About Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited
The Company, with its American depositary shares listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (NASDAQ:MLCO), is a developer, owner and operator of casino gaming and entertainment casino resort facilities in Asia. The Company currently operates Altira Macau (www.altiramacau.com), a casino hotel located at Taipa, Macau and City of Dreams (www.cityofdreamsmacau.com), an integrated urban casino resort located in Cotai, Macau. Its business also includes the Mocha Clubs (www.mochaclubs.com), which comprise the largest non-casino based operations of electronic gaming machines in Macau. The Company also majority owns and operates Studio City (www.studiocity-macau.com), a cinematically-themed integrated entertainment, retail and gaming resort in Cotai, Macau. In the Philippines, a Philippine subsidiary of the Company currently operates and manages City of Dreams Manila (www.cityofdreams.com.ph), a casino, hotel, retail and entertainment integrated resort in the Entertainment City complex in Manila. For more information about the Company, please visit www.melco-resorts.com.

The Company is strongly supported by its single largest shareholder, Melco International Development Limited, a company listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and is substantially owned and led by Mr. Lawrence Ho, who is the Chairman, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

For media enquiry, please contact:
Chimmy Leung
Executive Director, Corporate Communications
Tel: +852 3151 3765
Email: [email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/4239415f-55e8-48a7-bf3a-e6b87ed1e6a9