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Commitments and Contingencies
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies
Litigation
The Company is involved in other litigation in addition to those noted below, arising in the normal course of business. Management has made certain estimates for potential litigation costs based upon consultation with legal counsel. Actual results could differ from these estimates; however, in the opinion of management, such litigation and claims will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Asian American Entertainment Corporation, Limited v. Venetian Macau Limited, et al.
On February 5, 2007, Asian American Entertainment Corporation, Limited (“AAEC” or “Plaintiff”) brought a claim (the “Prior Action”) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada (the “U.S. District Court”) against Las Vegas Sands, Inc. (now known as Las Vegas Sands, LLC (“LVSLLC”)), Venetian Casino Resort, LLC (“VCR”) and Venetian Venture Development, LLC, which are subsidiaries of the Company, and William P. Weidner and David Friedman, who are former executives of the Company. The Prior Action sought damages based on an alleged breach of agreements entered into between AAEC and the aforementioned defendants for their joint presentation of a bid in response to the public tender held by the Macao government for the award of gaming concessions at the end of 2001. The U.S. District Court entered an order dismissing the Prior Action on April 16, 2010.
On January 19, 2012, AAEC filed another claim (the “Macao Action”) with the Macao Judicial Court against VML, LVS (Nevada) International Holdings, Inc. (“LVS (Nevada)”), LVSLLC and VCR (collectively, the “Defendants”). The claim was for 3.0 billion patacas (approximately $374 million at exchange rates in effect on December 31, 2022). The Macao Action alleges a breach of agreements entered into between AAEC and LVS (Nevada), LVSLLC and VCR (collectively, the “U.S. Defendants”) for their joint presentation of a bid in response to the public tender held by the Macao government for the award of gaming concessions at the end of 2001. On July 4, 2012, the Defendants filed their defense to the Macao Action with the Macao Judicial Court and amended the defense on January 4, 2013.
On March 24, 2014, the Macao Judicial Court issued a decision holding that AAEC’s claim against VML is unfounded and that VML be removed as a party to the proceedings. On May 8, 2014, AAEC lodged an appeal against that decision and the appeal is currently pending.
On June 5, 2015, the U.S. Defendants applied to the Macao Judicial Court to dismiss the claims against them as res judicata based on the dismissal of the Prior Action. On March 16, 2016, the Macao Judicial Court dismissed the defense of res judicata. An appeal against that decision was lodged by U.S. Defendants on April 7, 2016, and is currently pending. Evidence gathering by the Macao Judicial Court commenced by letters rogatory, which was completed on March 14, 2019, and the trial of this matter was originally scheduled for September 2019.
On July 15, 2019, AAEC submitted a request to the Macao Judicial Court to increase the amount of its claim to 96.45 billion patacas (approximately $12.01 billion at exchange rates in effect on December 31, 2022), allegedly representing lost profits from 2004 to 2018, and reserving its right to claim for lost profits up to 2022. On September 4, 2019, the Macao Judicial Court allowed AAEC’s request to increase the amount of its claim. On September 17, 2019, the U.S. Defendants appealed the decision granting AAEC’s request and that appeal is currently pending.
On June 18, 2020, the U.S. Defendants moved to reschedule the trial, which had been scheduled to begin on September 16, 2020, due to travel disruptions and other extraordinary circumstances resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic. The Macao Judicial Court granted that motion and rescheduled the trial to begin on June 16, 2021. On April 16, 2021, the U.S. Defendants again moved to reschedule the trial because of the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic. The Macao Judicial Court denied the U.S. Defendants’ motion on May 28, 2021. The U.S. Defendants appealed that ruling on June 16, 2021, and that appeal is currently pending.
The trial began as scheduled on June 16, 2021. By order dated June 17, 2021, the Macao Judicial Court scheduled additional trial dates in late 2021 to hear witnesses who were subject to COVID-19 travel restrictions that prevented or severely limited their ability to enter Macao. That order also provided a procedure for the parties to request written testimony from witnesses who were not able to travel to Macao. The U.S. Defendants appealed certain aspects of the Macao Judicial Court’s June 17, 2021 order, and that appeal is currently pending.
On July 10, 2021, the U.S. Defendants were notified of an invoice for supplemental court fees totaling 93 million patacas (approximately $12 million at exchange rates in effect on December 31, 2022) based on Plaintiff’s July 15, 2019 amendment. By motion dated July 20, 2021, the U.S. Defendants moved for an order withdrawing that invoice. The Macao Judicial Court denied that motion by order dated September 11, 2021. The U.S. Defendants appealed that order on September 23, 2021, and that appeal is currently pending. By order dated September 29, 2021, the Macao Judicial Court ordered that the invoice for supplemental court fees be stayed pending resolution of that appeal.
The Macao Judicial Court heard additional testimony in late 2021. Certain witnesses who were not able to enter Macao due to ongoing COVID-19 travel restrictions presented testimony in writing.
From December 17, 2021 to January 19, 2022, Plaintiff submitted additional documents to the court file and disclosed written reports from two purported experts, who calculated Plaintiff’s damages at 57.88 billion patacas and 62.29 billion patacas (approximately $7.21 billion and $7.76 billion, respectively, at exchange rates in effect on December 31, 2022).
The parties presented factual and rebuttal summations in January 2022. The Macao Judicial Court announced its proposed findings on disputed facts at a February 15, 2022 hearing. The parties filed post-trial briefs on points of law in March 2022. On April 28, 2022, the Macao Judicial Court entered a judgment for the U.S. Defendants. The Macao Judicial Court also held that Plaintiff litigated certain aspects of its case in bad faith.
Plaintiff filed a notice of appeal from the Macao Judicial Court’s judgment on May 13, 2022. That appeal is fully briefed and remains pending with the Macao Second Instance Court.
On September 19, 2022, the U.S. Defendants were notified of an invoice for appeal court fees totaling 48 million patacas (approximately $6 million at exchange rates in effect on December 31, 2022). By motion dated September 29, 2022, the U.S. Defendants moved the Macao Judicial Court for an order withdrawing that invoice. The Macao Judicial Court denied that motion by order dated October 24, 2022. The U.S. Defendants appealed that order on November 10, 2022, and that appeal remains pending. By order dated November 15, 2022, the Macao Judicial Court ordered that the invoice for appeal court fees be stayed pending resolution of that appeal.
Management has determined that, based on proceedings to date, it is currently unable to determine the probability of the outcome of this matter or the range of reasonably possible loss, if any. The Company intends to defend this matter vigorously.
The Daniels Family 2001 Revocable Trust v. LVSC, et al.
On October 22, 2020, The Daniels Family 2001 Revocable Trust, a putative purchaser of the Company’s shares, filed a purported class action complaint in the U.S. District Court against LVSC, Sheldon G. Adelson and Patrick Dumont. The complaint asserts violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and alleges that LVSC made materially false or misleading statements, or failed to disclose material facts, from February 27, 2016 through September 15, 2020, with respect to its operations at Marina Bay Sands, its compliance with Singapore laws and regulations, and its disclosure controls and procedures. On January 5, 2021, the U.S. District Court entered an order appointing Carl S. Ciaccio and Donald M. DeSalvo as lead plaintiffs (“Lead Plaintiffs”). On March 8, 2021, Lead Plaintiffs filed a purported class action amended complaint against LVSC, Sheldon G. Adelson, Patrick Dumont, and Robert G. Goldstein, alleging similar violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act over the same time period of February 27, 2016 through September 15, 2020. On March 22, 2021, the U.S. District Court granted Lead Plaintiffs’ motion to substitute Dr. Miriam Adelson, in her capacity as the Special Administrator for the estate of Sheldon G. Adelson, for Sheldon G. Adelson as a defendant in this action. On May 7, 2021, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint. Lead Plaintiffs filed an opposition to the motion to dismiss on July 6, 2021, and the defendants filed their reply on August 5, 2021. On March 28, 2022, the U.S. District Court entered an order dismissing the amended complaint in its entirety. The U.S. District Court dismissed certain claims with prejudice but granted Lead Plaintiffs leave to amend the complaint with respect to the other claims by April 18, 2022. On April 8, 2022, Lead Plaintiffs filed a Motion for Reconsideration and to Extend Time to File the Amended Complaint, requesting the U.S. District Court to reconsider certain aspects of its March 28, 2022 order and to extend the deadline for Lead Plaintiffs to file an amended complaint. The defendants filed an opposition to the motion on April 22, 2022. On April 18, 2022, Lead Plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint. On May 18, 2022, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the second amended complaint. Lead Plaintiffs filed an opposition to the motion to dismiss on June 17, 2022, and the defendants filed their reply on July 8, 2022. This action is in a preliminary stage and management has determined that based on proceedings to date, it is currently unable to determine the probability of the outcome of this matter or the range of reasonably possible loss, if any. The Company intends to defend this matter vigorously.
Turesky v. Sheldon G. Adelson, et al.
On December 28, 2020, Andrew Turesky filed a putative shareholder derivative action on behalf of the Company in the U.S. District Court, against Sheldon G. Adelson, Patrick Dumont, Robert G. Goldstein, Irwin Chafetz, Micheline Chau, Charles D. Forman, Steven L. Gerard, George Jamieson, Charles A. Koppelman, Lewis Kramer and David F. Levi, all of whom are current or former directors and/or officers of LVSC. The complaint asserts claims for breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, waste of corporate assets, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, violations of Sections 10(b), 14(a) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and for contribution under Sections 10(b) and 21D of the Exchange Act. On February 24, 2021, the U.S. District Court entered an order granting the parties’ stipulation to stay this action in light of the Daniels Family 2001 Revocable Trust putative securities class action (the “Securities Action”). Subject to the terms of the parties’ stipulation, this action is stayed until 30 days after the final resolution of the motion to dismiss in the Securities Action. On March 11, 2021, the U.S. District Court granted the plaintiff’s motion to substitute Dr. Miriam Adelson, in her capacity as the Special Administrator for the estate of Sheldon G. Adelson, for Sheldon G. Adelson as a defendant in this action. This action is in a preliminary stage and management has determined that based on proceedings to date, it is currently unable to determine the probability of the outcome of this matter or the range of reasonably possible loss, if any. The Company intends to defend this matter vigorously.
Commitments
Macao Concession
Annual Premium
Under the Macao Concession, the Company is obligated to pay to the Macao government an annual gaming premium with a fixed portion and a variable portion based on the number and type of gaming tables it employs and gaming machines it operates. The fixed portion of the premium is equal to 30 million patacas (approximately $4 million at exchange rates in effect on December 31, 2022). The variable portion is equal to 300,000 patacas per gaming table reserved exclusively for certain kinds of games or players, 150,000 patacas per gaming table not so reserved and 1,000 patacas per electrical or mechanical gaming machine, including slot machines (approximately $37,360, $18,680 and $125, respectively, at exchange rates in effect on December 31, 2022), subject to a minimum of 76 million patacas (approximately $9 million at exchange rates in effect on December 31, 2022). Based on the gaming tables and gaming machines (which is at the maximum number of tables and machines currently allowed by the Macao government) in operation as of January 1, 2023, the annual premium payable to the Macao government is approximately $41 million during each of the next five years ending December 31, 2027, and approximately $203 million in aggregate thereafter through the termination of the Concession in December 2032.
The Company is also obligated to pay a special gaming tax of 35% of gross gaming revenues and applicable withholding taxes. Under the Concession, the Company must also contribute 5% of its gross gaming revenue to utilities designated by the Macao government, a portion of which must be used for promotion of tourism in Macao. Additionally, under the Concession, the Company is also obligated to pay a special annual gaming premium if the average of the gross gaming revenues of the Company's gaming tables and electrical or mechanical gaming machines, including slot machines, is lower than a certain minimum amount determined by the Macao government; such special premium being the difference between the gaming tax based on the actual gross gaming revenues and that of the specified minimum amount; this minimum amount has been set by the Macao government at 7 million patacas per gaming table and 300,000 patacas per gaming machine (approximately $1 million and $37,360, respectively, at exchange rates in effect on December 31, 2022), for an annual total of 4.50 billion patacas (approximately $561 million at exchange rates in effect on December 31, 2022) based on the maximum number of gaming tables and gaming machines the Company is currently authorized to operate.
Handover Record
Pursuant to the Handover Record, the Company is required to make annual payments of 750 patacas per square meter for the first three years and 2,500 patacas per square meter for the following seven years (approximately $93 and $311, respectively, at exchange rates in effect on December 31, 2022). The annual payment of 750 patacas per square meter will be adjusted with the Macao average price index of the corresponding preceding year for years two and three and the annual payment of 2,500 patacas per square meter will be adjusted with the Macao average price index of the corresponding preceding year for years five through ten. The annual fee for the first three years is approximately $13 million and $42 million for the next seven years, subject to the Macao average price index adjustment mentioned above.
Committed Investment
Under the Concession, the Company is obligated to develop certain gaming and non-gaming investment projects by December 2032 in connection with, among others, attraction of international visitors, conventions and exhibitions, entertainment shows, sporting events, culture and art, health and wellness and themed attractions, as well as support Macao's position as a city of gastronomy and increase community and maritime tourism, and we are required to invest, or cause to be invested, at least 30.24 billion patacas (approximately $3.77 billion at exchange rates in effect on December 31, 2022), including 27.80 billion patacas (approximately $3.46 billion at exchange rates in effect on December 31, 2022) on non-gaming projects. The Company will be required to increase its investment in non-gaming projects by up to 20% in the following year if Macao’s annual market gross gaming revenue achieves or exceeds 180 billion patacas (approximately $22.42 billion at exchange rates in effect on December 31, 2022). The 20% increase is subject to a deduction of 4% per year if the revenue trigger occurs on or after the sixth year of the term of the Concession (2028). The additional investment is estimated to be approximately $700 million.
Non-Cancelable Contractual Obligations
The Company's non-cancelable contractual obligations (excluding operating leases and the Macao annual gaming premium mentioned above) is $364 million as of December 31, 2022. The amount excludes open purchase orders with the Company's suppliers that have not yet been received as these agreements generally allow the Company the option to cancel, reschedule and adjust terms based on the Company's business needs prior to the delivery of goods or performance of services. These obligations consist primarily of certain hotel management and service agreements. Some of the Company's hotel properties operate pursuant to management agreements with various experienced third-party hotel operators (management companies), whereby the management company controls the day-to-day operations of each of these hotels, and the Company is granted limited approval rights with respect to certain of the management company’s actions. The non-cancelable period of the Company's management agreements ranges from 14 to 40 years with various extension provisions and some with early termination options. Each management company receives a base management fee, generally a percentage of revenue as defined. There are also monthly fees for certain support services and some also include incentive fees based on attaining certain financial thresholds.