Gaming operations at all Macau casinos were suspended for the first time in the SAR’s history on Saturday night ahead of the anticipated arrival of Typhoon Mangkhut.
The Macau government issued a press release shortly after 11pm stating that gaming floors in all 42 casinos had been shut down on the order of Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On, with the city’s six concessionaires having agreed to the historic move.
Described as a “super typhoon” and stronger than Typhoon Hato, which killed 10 people and caused an estimated MP$11.5 billion worth of damage when it struck Macau in August 2017, Mangkhut saw authorities hoist Signal 8 typhoon warning at 2am on Sunday morning.
In a statement, the government said that “the suspension of gaming operations is for the safety of casino employees, visitors to the city and residents.
“The Civil Protection Operations Centre will – after reviewing community conditions once Typhoon Mangkhut has passed – make a recommendation as to when gaming operations might resume.”
It added that casinos were urged to provide all necessary assistance to employees and visitors as stated in an emergency plan sent to all concessionaires by Macau’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau last week.
Typhoon Mangkhut had earlier struck the northern areas of the Philippines, with wind speeds of more than 200km/h recorded.
