Casino co. Las Vegas Sands refuses to comment on report it is selling Macau property

Sands declines commment on report about Macau sale

LAS VEGAS — Casino company Las Vegas Sands Corp. is declining comment on a Hong Kong newspaper report that it could sell the first foreign-owned casino in the Chinese island of Macau under a lease-back arrangement worth $1.3 billion.

Spokesman Ron Reese in Las Vegas said the company would not comment on a South China Morning Post report Monday that cited unidentified sources.

Reese noted the owner of Sands, Venetian and Four Seasons properties in Macau previously said it had been approached by investors interested in buying into its operations in the Chinese gambling enclave.

The newspaper reported online Monday that the casino operator was considering selling the Sands Macau casino, built in 2004.