The Macau government has confirmed it is considering raising the minimum age for entry to its casinos from 18 to 21. Such a move would bring ‘Asia’s Las Vegas’ in line with the Nevada jurisdiction.
The key reason for the proposal, cited by Florinda da Rosa Silva Chan, Macau’s Secretary for Administration and Justice in a written answer to a local legislator, was concern about local youths and young casino staff gambling in local casinos.
This is rather different from the reason given when the idea of raising the age limit was first mooted in late 2007. That was a time well before social responsibility became a hot topic and before China started rationing entry permits for its citizens to visit Macau.
Back in 2007, sources close to the government indicated the idea was to discourage high school graduates from taking the first well-paid casino dealer job that came along and instead encourage them to enter further education. That way, locals had a chance of becoming casino executives in the future rather than being trapped by the glass ceiling of casino pit work. Those under-21s already working in casinos would be given exemption from the age rule under the proposal. The idea was supported at the time by Dr Stanley Ho, whose company SJM operates or provides licences for 19 of Macau’s 31 casinos. Dr Ho indicated ruefully that some of the school leavers interviewed by SJM had difficulty adding up properly.
Forward wind to February 2009, and by pushing the higher age policy now, the Macau government has the chance to earn a few brownie points from Beijing and the world at large on the topic of social responsibility, as well as addressing the issues of local skills and education.
Who said politicians had to be democratically elected in order to understand the political game?
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