Industry
February 11, 2022
Massive Hotel Growth Expected for Macau in the Coming Months
Macau is going through one of the biggest transformational periods it has seen since being transferred from Portugal to China. Casinos have ruled the city for the past five decades, but this is no longer going to be the case. While gambling will continue to be a major part of the economy, leaders in China […]
Industry
February 10, 2022
MGM China Eyeing Strong Recovery, Converting Junkets Part of Plan
Junket operators are a thing of the past in China and Macau. As MGM China would confirm, cutting the middleman out of business is not a bad thing. With junket operators out of the way, transitioning former junket customers now represents a unique opportunity for the growth of operators. MGM China Keen to Pursue Strong […]
Casino
February 7, 2022
LVS Becomes Latest Concessionaire to Forego Junkets in Macau
Macau has undergone some significant changes in the way it issues licenses to casinos, part of a broader review that was intended to bring the Special Administrative Region (SAR) under the further control of Beijing. The move also gave operating casinos in the SAR a very strong incentive to sit up and listen. As a […]
Industry
February 1, 2022
Macau’s Casino Scene Takes a Step Backward as 2022 Gets Going
According to Macau’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ, for its Portuguese acronym) data, Macau’s gross gaming revenue (GGR) fell 20.3% in January. This is a decrease of 20.3% from the previous month. This revenue was MOP6.34 billion ($793 million) compared to December’s MOP7.96 billion ($990.2 million). The year-on-year difference saw a drop of 20.9%. […]
Legal
January 31, 2022
Macau Police Reports Gaming-Related Crime Went up in 2021
The numbers are in, and crime has not gone down in Macau over the last 12 months. These are the conclusions published by Macau’s Judicial Police last Thursday. The wave of criminality in the special administrative region has increased by 23.2% year-over-year, citing gaming-related crimes. Gaming-Related Crime Still Pervades Society Despite the pandemic, criminals have […]
Business
January 31, 2022
Second High-Profile Junket Operator Arrested in Macau
Levo Chan Weng Line, the boss of Macau casino junket operator Tak Chun, was detained in Macau on Friday, according to the Judiciary Police. After Suncity Group, Tak Chun was one of the largest junket operators in the city. More Macau Junkets Fall A 49-year-old suspect identified as Chan by Macau authorities was taken into […]
Industry
January 28, 2022
Problem Gambling Impacts Family Relationships in Macau
Problem gambling is a delicate matter anywhere you go. While the stigma associated with this behavior has mostly dissipated, owing to clinical trials that prove it is a serious medical condition, numerous studies have found it necessary to reiterate the societal impact the higher prevalence of problem gambling plays – not least to help alleviate […]
Legal
January 27, 2022
Las Vegas Sands Fights Back Against $7-Billion Lawsuit in Macau
Las Vegas Sands (LVS) is back in court fighting a familiar foe. Asian American Entertainment Corporation (AAEC), a former business partner in Macau that helped it get its start there, has been trying to collect massive amounts of money for years. It argues that LVS breached its contract and, therefore, deserves a fat payday. It […]
Industry
January 26, 2022
Number of Junkets Active in Macau Cut in Half Since January 2021
Over the past year, the total number of Macau licensed gaming junkets has declined by 45.9%. According to the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ, for its Portuguese acronym), this is the ninth consecutive year that the number of licensed junkets has declined in Macau. More exits are likely leading up to the implementation of […]
Industry
January 25, 2022
IMF Projects Steady Recovery for Macau as Region Diversifies Economy
Business is a greasy pole – you go up, you go down. Macau has been struggling in the past two years has been all but deprived of its main revenue sources, casino gaming and tourism. This has not stopped the special administrative region (SAR) from continuing panning. It has overhauled its licensing procedure for casinos […]