NEW YORK, Jan 27, 2011 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) --

Melco Crown Entertainment Limited (Nasdaq:MPEL), a developer and owner of casino gaming and entertainment resort facilities focused on the Macau market, has been awarded "Best Casino Operator" for the Asia Pacific region at the International Gaming Awards 2011 for the third consecutive year. The Company's flagship integrated entertainment resort, City of Dreams, in Cotai, Macau, was awarded "Best Casino Interior Design" and "Best Casino VIP Room" at the Awards.

Based in London, International Gaming Awards is one of the most prestigious awards in the gaming industry. The "Best Casino Operator" award, one of the highest awards in the International Gaming Awards, is given to Melco Crown Entertainment in recognition of its vision, originality and vitality that set the Company apart from the others in the gaming market.

Mr. Lawrence Ho, Co-Chairman and CEO of Melco Crown Entertainment, said: "We are honored to receive this very prestigious emblem of achievement three years in a row and to be recognized as a visionary in the world's most dynamic gaming market. These awards reflect Melco Crown Entertainment's understanding and commitment to the Macau gaming landscape and they highlight our role in the transformation of Macau into an international gaming and leisure destination for the most discerning guests."

Melco Crown Entertainment operates City of Dreams (www.cityofdreamsmacau.com), its flagship integrated entertainment resort and home of The House of Dancing Water, the world's largest water-based performance; Altira Macau (www.altiramacau.com), a Forbes Five-Star luxurious casino hotel; and Mocha Clubs (www.mochaclubs.com), Macau's largest non-casino based electronic gaming chain.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "target," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. Melco Crown Entertainment Limited (the "Company") may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: growth of the gaming market and visitation in Macau; increased competition and other planned casino hotel and resort projects in Macau and elsewhere in Asia; the completion of infrastructure projects in Macau; government regulation of the casino industry; our ability to raise additional financing; the formal grant of occupancy permits for areas of City of Dreams undergoing construction and/or development; our anticipated growth strategies; and our future business development, results of operations and financial condition. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on March 31, 2010 and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

About Melco Crown Entertainment Limited

Melco Crown Entertainment Limited (the "Company"), is a developer, owner and through a Macau subsidiary which holds a gaming sub-concession, an operator of casino gaming and entertainment casino resort facilities. The Company currently operates Altira Macau (www.altiramacau.com) (formerly Crown Macau), a casino hotel located at Taipa, Macau and City of Dreams (www.cityofdreamsmacau.com), an integrated urban casino resort located in Cotai, Macau. The Company's business also includes the Mocha Clubs (www.mochaclubs.com), which feature a total of approximately 1,600 gaming machines in eight locations and comprise the largest non-casino based operations of electronic gaming machines in Macau. For more information about the Company, please visit www.melco-crown.com.

The Company has strong support from both of its major shareholders, Melco International Development Limited ("Melco") and Crown Limited ("Crown"). Melco is a listed company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and is substantially owned and led by Mr. Lawrence Ho, who is Co-Chairman, a Director and the CEO of the Company. Crown is a top-50 company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and led by Executive Chairman Mr. James Packer, who is also Co-Chairman and a Director of the Company.

This news release was distributed by GlobeNewswire, www.globenewswire.com

SOURCE: Melco Crown Entertainment Limited

CONTACT: Investment Community, please contact:
Geoffrey Davis, CFA
Deputy CFO and Treasurer
Tel: +1 212 671 1936
Email: geoffreydavis@melco-crown.com
For media enquiry, please contact:
Maggie Ma
Head of Corporate Communications
Tel: +852 3151 3767
Email: maggiema@melco-crown.com