MACAU, June 10 (Reuters) – Gambling revenue growth in Macau could slow in the second half of the year, a senior executive of Wynn Macau (1128.HK) said on Thursday, as spending moderates after a boom in the second half of 2009 when China was in the midst of a massive economic stimulus plan.

Still, the former Portuguese enclave is likely to beat a forecast for 30 percent growth in gambling revenues this year by Macau’s top gambling regulator, Wynn Macau Chief Operating Officer Linda Chen told reporters at an event in Macau. [ID:nTOE65802D].

“The government said it will grow 30 percent for this year. I think that’s a conservative view,” she said.

“For the second half of 2009, we had already seen a comeback in the market,” Chen said. “So … the pace of the second half of the year won’t be as strong.”

Chen said she expects the VIP market to grow at a faster rate than the mass market segment, contrary to comments from rival SJM Holdings (0880.HK), which said gambling revenue growth from the lucrative high-roller segment is likely to slow in the second half, as wealthy Chinese take a hit from a weak stock market and tight monetary policies. [ID:nTOE659053].

Chen said she did not think these factors could affect VIP gambling revenues in the second half.

Gambling revenues in Macau, the world’s largest and fastest-growing gambling market, surged almost 95 percent in May to a record 17 billion patacas ($2.1 billion), analysts said, citing Portuguese news agency Lusa. That followed a 70 percent year-on-year jump in April, when revenue rose to a previous record 14.1 billion patacas ($1.76 billion).

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Gambling revenues in Macau, the only region in China where casino gambling is legal, had set previous records in August and October last year, as strong economic growth in China spurred mainland Chinese tourists to gamble in the enclave.

COTAI RESORT

Wynn Macau, run by U.S. gambling tycoon Steve Wynn, could break ground on a mega casino resort on Macau’s Cotai Strip next year, Wynn told reporters, adding that the project could have 1,200 to 1,300 slot machines and be ready by 2014.

Wynn said he will be “splitting the headquarters” of Wynn Resorts (WYNN.O) between Las Vegas and Macau.

“That involves increasing our presence in Macau,” he said. “My board of directors agrees and are enthusiastic about it.”

Wynn said in an interview with Reuters in April that he may move his company’s headquarters to Macau as it embarks on a major expansion there, in a nod to the rise of the former Portuguese enclave as the world’s new gambling capital. [ID:nTOE63K03Y]

Wynn Resorts makes more than half of its operating cash flow from its Macau unit, similar to Las Vegas Sands (LVS.N) and its Sands China (1928.HK) unit, both led by Wynn’s rival Sheldon Adelson. (Editing by Doug Young and Jacqueline Wong)