Las Vegas Sands has announced that it will temporally stop the development of two projects planned in Macao to concentrate in other projects located in Singapore and Pennsylvania. The decision to suspend the construction works on the Cotai Strip in Macao comes after Sands announced a capital raising program that will help the company to raise over $2 billion in funds including new funding from Chief Executive Sheldon Adelson. The announcement is expected to cool off recent concerns regarding the company’s liquidity and capability to pay its current debts.

Las Vegas Sands president and chief operating officer, William Weidner, released a statement this Monday in where the company informed its decision to hold the construction of its $600 million Strip condominium tower and other development plans in China. Las Vegas Sands also communicated that it will focus its capital and time to conclude the Marina Bay Sands, in Singapore, and Sands Bethlehem in Pennsylvania. According to this statement, the Macau’s projects will resume “at an appropriate time in the future, to the extent capital becomes available on acceptable terms”.

The Las Vegas Sands project on the Cotai Strip included more than a dozen hotels and over 20,000 rooms. Until now, Las Vegas Sands has launched the Venetian Macao, which began operations last year, and the Four Seasons Macao hotel, which was opened in August, 2008. Also, Rob Goldstein, president of the Venetian Resort and Casino and the Palazzo Resort, said the company will apply a series of measures on its Las Vegas Strip properties to reduce the operational costs in about $100 million.

Las Vegas Sands said it is already settling the final details to build the $4 billion Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. The company said the capital raising program would help fund the Singapore development. So far, two Singapore-based banks have joint the list of eight banks hired to put together more than $3.3 billion in loans for the project.

In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the company is developing the Casino area inside the $675 million Sands Bethlehem, which will include a 3,000-slot machine casino, restaurants and a 3,500-space parking garage. However, Sands announced that some areas, including a shopping center and other entertainment venues, will be delayed until further announcement. The casino is expected to open by the end of June.

Las Vegas Sands President, Bill Weidner said the changes announced could decrease the company’s expenses by $1.8 billion. The capital raising program is also expected to help the company to meet some of its current obligations, including the more than $3 billion in loans acquired over the last years.