• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Wednesday 17 September 2025
  • zh-hant 中文
  • ja 日本語
  • en English
IAG
Advertisement
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
No Result
View All Result
IAG
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

No cuts to Macau gaming tax under re-tendering but government offers olive branch on CSR expectations

Jane Ka Cheng Wong by Jane Ka Cheng Wong
Wed 22 Apr 2020 at 04:10
No cuts to Macau gaming tax under re-tendering but government offers olive branch on CSR expectations
27
SHARES
660
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng emphasized on Tuesday that gaming taxes in Macau would not be reduced under new gaming legislation to form part of license re-tendering in 2022.

A day after giving his maiden policy address, Ho presented to the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday to answer legislators’ questions about the key issues raised in his address.

Legislator Mak Soi Kun raised the issue of gaming taxes given Macau faces increasing competition from neighboring jurisdictions, with the Chief Executive maintaining his stance that operators will continue to have the financial means to pay the 35% tax rate.

However, he added that those same operators should not also be expected to shoulder all the burden for Macau’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

“Gaming operators should not bear too much irrelevant CSR,” he said. “For example, building dorms for employees should not be their responsibility. Paying tax is their main contribution to us, the government then uses the fiscal surplus to construct the city.

“It’s not appropriate to force gaming concessions to do everything.”

Ho had previously criticized Macau’s six gaming concessionaires for failing to offer up their hotels for use by the government as medical quarantine venues. Sands China subsequently responded by making up to 2,000 rooms at Sheraton Grand Macao available for those returning from overseas, but Ho noted on Tuesday that poor communication with the operators may have been part of the initial problem.

“The Director of Macau Government Tourism Office sent letters to every gaming operator at that time, and most of them rejected it,” he said. “But after I spoke about CSR, many senior management personnel contacted me and said they were willing to provide hotels for us. It’s probably because staff at lower management levels were too bureaucratic at that time.

“It might have been better if I sent requests personally! We didn’t expect hundreds of people to return from foreign countries so quickly (in March) and it was more than the capacities of the older and smaller-scale hotels could handle. We had to find more hotels urgently.”

Ho also expressed his gratitude for those operators who did offer up hotels to support COVID-19 quarantine measures.

“SJM provided many hotels such as Grand Lapa and Jai Alai to us, almost to give us all they could. Then Sheraton Grand Macao gave use 2,000 rooms for quarantine, which quickly resolved our difficulties,” he said.

“It’s much easier now. I appreciate the six gaming concessionaires’ efforts and support. Several casinos had to close due to their hotels being utilized as quarantine venues.”

RelatedPosts

Macau GGR hits MOP$19.8 billion in August, up 6% month-on-month

Government figures indicate Macau’s gaming industry recorded US$17.9 billion surplus in 2024

Wed 17 Sep 2025 at 18:04
Melco’s Tokyo office raided by Public Prosecutor as Akimoto scandal deepens

Melco prices new notes offering at US$500 million

Wed 17 Sep 2025 at 06:16
The changing face of Macau

Melco to launch private hospital at Macau’s Studio City as part of 10-year non-gaming concession commitment

Wed 17 Sep 2025 at 05:06
Police arrest 100 people after detecting 62 cases of illegal money exchange in joint Macau operation

Police arrest 100 people after detecting 62 cases of illegal money exchange in joint Macau operation

Mon 15 Sep 2025 at 22:58
Load More
Tags: Chief ExecutiveCorporate Social Responsibilitydirect gaming taxesgaming taxesHo Iat-sengMacauSJM Holdings
Share11Share2
Jane Ka Cheng Wong

Jane Ka Cheng Wong

Jane Ka Cheng Wong is a journalist who joined Inside Asian Gaming after working for local Macau media for many years. As part of the IAG team she covers Macau-based stories relating to politics, gaming, IRs and local associations among other topics. Jane is intrigued by unique scenarios, vibrant cultures and different people, and hopes to continue exploring new places around the world in the future.

Current Issue

Editorial – Flipping the script

Editorial – Flipping the script

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 12:30

This month represents an important milestone for Inside Asian Gaming as we launch IAG EXPO – an expansion of the...

Asia market roundup

Asia market roundup

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 12:26

Inside Asian Gaming takes a deep dive into the state of Asia-Pacific’s key gaming markets: who’s hot, who’s not and...

Rewriting the rules

Rewriting the rules

by Newsdesk
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 11:43

IAG EXPO, taking place at Newport World Resorts from 8 to 10 September, is not your usual trade show. IAG...

Test of character

Test of character

by Newsdesk
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 11:28

Since its establishment in 1989, Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) has developed into the world’s most trusted name when it comes...

Evolution Asia
Evolution Asia
Aristocrat
GLI
Nustar
SABA
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
NWR
NWR

Related Posts

Macau GGR hits MOP$19.8 billion in August, up 6% month-on-month

Government figures indicate Macau’s gaming industry recorded US$17.9 billion surplus in 2024

by Pierce Chan
Wed 17 Sep 2025 at 18:04

Macau’s gaming industry recorded a surplus of MOP$143.1 billion (US$17.9 billion) in 2024, representing a 24.7% year-on-year increase according to information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC). The surplus was driven by an increase in total receipts of the...

Genting’s KT Lim moving to take New York’s Resorts World Catskills private

Genting Malaysia plan to sell off non-gaming assets of Resorts World Catskills delayed for a second time

by Newsdesk
Wed 17 Sep 2025 at 17:06

A previously announced transaction that will involve Genting Malaysia selling off a raft of non-gaming assets associated with its Resorts World Catskills (RWC) integrated resort in New York state has been delayed for a second time to allow investors involved...

Publication of record

Melco ordered to pay total US$13,700 to City of Dreams Manila workers let go during COVID

by Newsdesk
Wed 17 Sep 2025 at 17:03

The Philippines’ Court of Appeals (CA) has ordered a subsidiary of Melco Resorts & Entertainment (Philippines) Corp to pay nominal damages of Php30,000 (US$527) to each of 26 former employees of City of Dreams Manila who were terminated under a...

Melco’s Tokyo office raided by Public Prosecutor as Akimoto scandal deepens

Melco prices new notes offering at US$500 million

by Newsdesk
Wed 17 Sep 2025 at 06:16

Melco Resorts & Entertainment subsidiary Melco Resorts Finance Limited has priced its international offering of senior notes at US$500 million aggregate principal amount of 6.500% senior notes due 2033. The proceeds will be used to redeem all outstanding 5.250% senior...

Your browser does not support the video tag.


IAG

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE
  • 中文

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • 中文
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • 中文
  • English