HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Asia Entertainment & Resources Ltd. (“AERL”) (NASDAQ: AERL), which operates through its subsidiaries and related promoter companies as a VIP room gaming promoter, today announced unaudited Rolling Chip Turnover (as defined below) for the month of January 2011 at the company’s three VIP rooms in Macau was US$1.374 billion, up 110% year-over-year, compared to US$654 million for the month of January 2010. This compares with a year-over-year increase in gross gaming revenue for Macau of 33% for January 2011.

The growth in Rolling Chip Turnover was attributable to organic growth, the recent warrant redemption (concluded October 28, 2010), which raised gross proceeds of approximately $35.5 million, increasing cage capital allowing for higher levels of Rolling Chip Turnover, as well as the completion of the acquisition of 100% of the profit interest in the operations of King’s Gaming Promotion Limited (“KGP”), thereby adding to AERL a VIP room at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel on the Cotai Strip.

The Company’s VIP rooms are primarily focused on high stakes baccarat. Baccarat accounts for approximately 88% of total Macau casino winnings according to the Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ). In Macau, two remuneration methods are used to compensate VIP room gaming promoters. On a fixed commission basis, VIP room gaming promoter revenues are based on an agreed percentage of Rolling Chip Turnover. On a win/loss split basis, the VIP room gaming promoter receives an agreed percentage of the “win” in the VIP gaming room (plus certain incentive allowances), and is required to also bear the same percentage of losses that might be incurred. Compared to the fixed commission basis, the win/loss split basis subjects the VIP room gaming promoter to the risk of losses from the gaming patron’s activity and greater volatility.

AERL’s VIP rooms at the Galaxy Star World in Downtown Macau and the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel are based on a fixed commission. The VIP room at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino continues to operate at an approximately 43% (including certain incentive allowances) win/loss split basis. At this rate, and assuming a win rate (the percentage that a casino’s win is of the total amount bet) of 2.9%, AERL would have the same revenues at the MGM Grand Hotel as if it operated under a 1.25% fixed commission basis. However, if the win rate was below 2.9%, AERL would have less revenue than if it operated on the 1.25% fixed commission basis. For the month of January, the win rate at MGM – which generates approximately 15% of the aggregate Rolling Chip Turnover – was above 2.9%. Because the larger part of AERL’s revenues is now directly related to Rolling Chip Turnover, the Company is concentrating its marketing efforts to increase the number of patrons and the amount of play at its VIP gaming rooms that operate under the fixed commission basis. Consequently, in order to increase the Rolling Chip Turnover, the Company reinvests its earnings to increase the amount of cage capital available to finance the increased patron activity. Based on a statistical average of 3.00%, AERL’s net profit before general and administrative expenses is typically 0.45% of the Rolling Chip Turnover.

Under the win/loss split model, AERL’s VIP gaming promoters’ gross win rate as a percentage of Rolling Chip Turnover has historically ranged between approximately 1.1% and 4.5%. The industry average gross win rate for Baccarat is approximately 2.85% to 3.00%. Theoretical win rates for AERL’s VIP gaming promoters’ VIP gaming room operations depend on a variety of factors, some beyond their control, such as the element of chance that characterizes the gaming industry. Theoretical win rates are also affected by other factors, including gaming patrons’ skill and experience, the mix of games played, the financial resources of gaming patrons, the spread of table limits, the volume of bets placed by AERL’s VIP gaming promoters’ gaming patrons and the amount of time gaming patrons spend on gambling — thus VIP gaming rooms’ actual win rates may differ greatly over short time periods, such as from quarter to quarter, and could cause quarterly results to be volatile. These factors, alone or in combination, have the potential to negatively impact the VIP gaming rooms’ win rates.

Definition of Rolling Chip Turnover

Rolling Chip Turnover is used by casinos to measure the volume of VIP business transacted and represents the aggregate amount of bets players make. Bets are wagered with "non-negotiable chips” and winning bets are paid out by casinos in so-called "cash” chips. "Non-negotiable chips” are specifically designed for VIP players to allow casinos to calculate the commission payable to VIP room gaming promoters. Commissions are paid based on the total amount of "non-negotiable chips” purchased by each player. VIP room gaming promoters therefore require the players to "roll,” from time to time, their "cash chips” into "non-negotiable” chips for further betting so that they may receive their commissions (hence the term "Rolling Chip Turnover”). Through the promoters, "non-negotiable chips” can be converted back into cash at any time. Betting using rolling chips, as opposed to using cash chips, is also used by the DICJ to distinguish between VIP table revenue and mass market table revenue.

About Asia Entertainment & Resources Ltd.

AERL, formerly known as CS China Acquisition Corp., acquired Asia Gaming & Resort Limited (“AGRL”) on February 2, 2010. AERL is an investment holding company which operates through its subsidiaries and related promoter companies as a VIP room gaming promoter, and is entitled to receive all of the profits of the VIP gaming promoters from VIP gaming rooms. AERL’s VIP room gaming promoters currently participate in the promotion of three major luxury VIP gaming facilities in Macau, China, the largest gaming market in the world. One VIP gaming room is located at the top-tier MGM Grand Macau Casino in downtown Macau that is operated by the MGM Grand Paradise S.A. Another Macau VIP gaming facility is located in the luxury 5-star hotel, the Star World Hotel & Casino in downtown Macau, which is operated by Galaxy Casino, S.A. The other VIP gaming room is located at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel on the Cotai Strip.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements, based upon the current beliefs and expectations of AERL's management, are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward looking statements.