LT Games Suspends U.S. Sales Due to Tariffs

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The Macau-based casino equipment manufacturer LT Game has suspended sales of its gaming machines to the United States. While the company may not be familiar to players of online baccarat, its products, including gaming tables, are found in several casinos throughout the U.S.

LT Game explained that the escalating trade war between the U.S. and China is the main reason for the suspension of sales. The announcement came just as the company opened a new production facility in Macau with the aim of improving supply efficiency and expanding its presence in more lucrative markets across Asia and Europe.

Table Games, Live Dealer Terminals, and Slots
A subsidiary of Paradise Entertainment Limited, LT Game is best known for its electronic table games, live dealer betting terminals, and a growing range of slot machines. While the U.S. market was part of the company’s international strategy, it now faces prohibitive import costs due to the tariffs imposed by the U.S. government.

At the launch ceremony for the firm’s new Macau production line, LT Game Chairman and Managing Director Jay Chun said:

“We won’t be selling to the US in the short term. We’ve held off for the time being because the tariff on a gaming machine is more than 100%, and it’s hard to compete with products made in the US.”

These tariffs, which President Trump increased to as high as 145% on certain Chinese imports, have made it unviable for LT Game to continue operating in the U.S. casino equipment market. Beijing has responded with similarly aggressive measures, which has added further pressure to cross-border trade between the two economies.

Despite the setback in North America, Chun remains cautiously optimistic, “I believe the trade issue can be resolved definitively, probably within a few months, and then we can consider reselling to the North American market.”

A New Focus on Asia
LT Game’s move away from the U.S. comes as it places a greater focus on Asia, where demand remains robust. According to Chun, the Philippines is currently the biggest market in Asia and there is growing demand in countries such as Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Cambodia, which has made them central to LT Game’s overseas expansion plans, along with a renewed push into parts of Europe.

In 2024, overseas sales accounted for just 0.6% of LT Game’s total revenue. Nonetheless, the firm has been preparing for future growth abroad, including setting up a U.S. office and partnering with new distributors. Chun said that the company had recently signed on a new distributor in North America but said exports to the U.S. would be paused until the situation stabilizes.

The shift in strategy comes as LT Game completes a HK$10 million investment in a new 20,000-square-foot assembly plant in northern Macau. The facility can produce up to 20,000 machines each year, and handle final assembly, testing, and maintenance of various product lines such as the LTS-1, Vista, Speedwave, and Ripple cabinets.

In the past, assembly was outsourced to manufacturers in Taiwan, which often led to delays and supply chain inefficiencies.

The new site, located next to LT Game’s office and showroom, is expected to streamline operations by integrating global component sourcing. Parts come from China, Taiwan, the U.S., and Japan, though Chun suggested the company is already moving away from American-sourced components.

A Move Towards Smart Tables
In addition to increasing slot machine production, LT Game is also moving into the smart table segment. These technologically enhanced tables offer advanced features such as embedded sensors for more accurate gameplay. The company plans to launch its first smart table for baccarat and has positioned its offering as a cost-effective alternative to those currently available in Macau, where the market is currently dominated by Walker Digital Table Systems and Angel.

“Our smart tables are nearly half the price of similar products on the market, but their accuracy is not compromised. Smart tables can theoretically support a wide range of table games, but for now LT Game is ready to launch a smart table mainly for baccarat. Although there are complex sensor systems involved in the design of smart tables, LT Game is well positioned to compete in this market and hopefully expand into other overseas markets.”

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