NEW YORK (Bloomberg) — Las Vegas Sands Corp. said at least 9,000 construction workers in Macau may lose their jobs after the casino company controlled by billionaire Sheldon Adelson halted work on a $12 billion development. About 11,000 people are employed by contractors building the casino operator's project, Las Vegas Sands' Asia President Stephen Weaver said in a statement from the company. About 2,000 are Macau residents, and the company will help them find other jobs, the company said.

Suspending work on the Macau development "aligns the company" with the Macau government's "intention to slow down the pace of development of the gaming industry", a separate statement from the casino operator said.