• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Thursday 10 July 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

Macau’s line in the sand doesn’t need to be fatal blow for junkets: Edmund Loi

Wendi Song by Wendi Song
Tue 4 Jan 2022 at 04:51
In defense of Macau’s junket licensing regime
42
SHARES
1.1k
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Despite the current upheaval in Macau’s junket industry, Edmund Loi Hoi Ngan, Associate Professor of the Social, Economic and Public Policy Research Centre of Macao Polytechnic Institute, believes that recent events do not point to the exclusion of junkets but rather establish a clear line in the sand that VIP gaming promoters must not touch online or cross-border gambling.

Following the arrest and detainment without bail of Sun City Gaming Promotion Company Limited’s sole shareholder, Alvin Chau, who is currently awaiting trial for alleged criminal association, illegal gambling and money laundering, Macau’s casino concessionaires recently began terminating contracts with junket promoters. The VIP gaming industry, which once generated the majority of Macau’s gambling revenue, is facing an unprecedented crisis.

However, Loi believes the current situation has eliminated some of the gray areas around the VIP segment, ensuring rules will now become clearer with less uncertainty. This in turn is conducive to the healthy development of Macau’s gaming industry, he said.

When he previously spoke with IAG in September, Loi said, “Due to its positioning as a gaming center, Macau has not been able to reassure the Central Government that it can avoid becoming a loophole of capital outflow.”

He now believes one of the ways to “reassure the Central Government” is by making two key adjustments to its gaming industry: reducing its reliance on the VIP sector and increasing non-gaming elements.

“The IRs are here already and as long as the clients are not organized to come [by operators or promoters), it is a normal operation. This way, the line is drawn so that everyone is clearer,” Loi said.

“For instance, after some concessionaires changed their name to indicate ‘leisure and entertainment’ (SJM’s Chinese name was changed to mean ‘Macau Leisure and Entertainment’ rather than ‘Macau gaming’), they were included in the promotional roadshows of Macau in mainland China (part of the MGTO’s ‘Macao Week’ promotion events). This also shows that such activities are allowed.”

Loi also notes that the closure of Macau VIP rooms and cessation of junket activities by the likes of Suncity and Tak Chun is not a declaration of “bankruptcy” and could be a case of promoters adopting a “wait and see” approach regarding how they can legally resume operations in future.

“After all, Southeast Asia still allows cross-border gambling,” he said. “Countries like Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan are not opposed to cross-border gambling. The ways for junkets are not completely blocked, as long as they stay away from mainland China. I think the bottom line is very clear.”

Loi said that although both the Suncity and Dore Entertainment cases accelerated the shrinkage of Macau’s VIP segment, there still might be a gradual rebound once amendment to Macau’s gaming law are confirmed.

As for development of the gaming industry in the coming year, Loi believes Macau is still the world’s most promising gaming market at present despite the lingering presence of COVID-19.

“Although the statistics during the past two years are poor, they are still good compared to other jurisdictions,” he explained. “For example, despite the fact that Macau’s foreign investment dropped by more than MOP$50 billion in 2020, US capital still chose to enter Macau, which means that Macau’s gaming market is still the best in terms of the global market.

“Although it seems that the scale of Macau’s gaming industry will be somewhat limited to a certain extent in the future, on the whole, I think no gaming company would actually want to miss the opportunity to enter or stay.

“GGR bottomed out last summer, some uncertainties have now been removed and visitors have stabilized at around 30,000 per day. When things are stable, decisions can be made faster.

“The reason I’m optimistic about Macau is because I cannot find any better place.”

RelatedPosts

Macau GGR hits new post-pandemic high of MOP$20.8 billion in October

Citi: Macau industry EBITDA likely to have grown by 3% in 2Q25

Thu 10 Jul 2025 at 05:46
Macau government says ratio of local staff employed by concessionaires in middle and senior positions now at 90%

Macau government says ratio of local staff employed by concessionaires in middle and senior positions now at 90%

Wed 9 Jul 2025 at 19:46
Macau’s 2025 visitor arrivals move past 20 million, 26 days earlier than last year

Macau’s 2025 visitor arrivals move past 20 million, 26 days earlier than last year

Tue 8 Jul 2025 at 14:47
Industry gathers for milestone Macau After Dark at Vasco – Bar and Lounge as MAD concept celebrates 30th edition

Industry gathers for milestone Macau After Dark at Vasco – Bar and Lounge as MAD concept celebrates 30th edition

Tue 8 Jul 2025 at 05:57
Load More
Tags: Alvin ChauclosureEdmund LoiJunketsMacauSuncity GroupTak Chun Group
Share17Share3
Wendi Song

Wendi Song

After years spent studying law – firstly in Shanghai and later in Macau – Wendi started her Macau-based career as a writer and journalist. She’s been published in several English, Chinese and Portuguese newspapers and magazines in Macau for over a decade, including Inside Asian Gaming and its sister magazine High Life, and played a key role in helping develop O Media’s Hengqin Record – Macau’s first weekly email newsletter and website focusing specifically on Hengqin and its role in the Greater Bay Area. Wendi has particular expertise in Hengqin and the Greater Bay Area, and has been the Chinese editor and translator of Inside Asian Gaming since May 2019.

Current Issue

Editorial – An inconvenient truth

Editorial – An inconvenient truth

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 15:21

It’s understandable that political observers, academics and members of the public in greenfield jurisdictions would express caution around the legalization...

Light & Wonder’s Siobhan Lane

Light & Wonder’s Siobhan Lane

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 15:19

Siobhan Lane, Light & Wonder’s highly experienced CEO of Gaming, speaks to Inside Asian Gaming about the company’s ongoing transformation...

Honesty is the best policy

Honesty is the best policy

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 14:13

The Thailand Entertainment Complex Roundtable brought industry stakeholders, politicians and supporters of the government’s Entertainment Complex Bill face to face...

Sri Lanka’s casino industry

Sri Lanka’s casino industry

by Shaun McCamley
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 13:36

Industry veteran Shaun McCamley delves into the complex history of Sri Lanka’s casino industry at a time when the country...

Evolution Asia
Your browser does not support HTML5 video.
Aristocrat
GLI
Nustar
SABA
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
NWR
Jumbo
568Win

Related Posts

PhilWeb falls to US$10.5 million loss in FY24 on asset impairments

Century Entertainment signs joint venture agreement to develop gaming system platforms for Asia-Pacific markets

by Newsdesk
Thu 10 Jul 2025 at 06:22

Century Entertainment International Holdings Ltd has announced the formation of a joint venture with Philippines-based World Platinum Technologies Inc (WPT) with the goal of conducting research, development, marketing and sales of WPT’s gaming system platforms and related content in the...

Macau GGR hits new post-pandemic high of MOP$20.8 billion in October

Citi: Macau industry EBITDA likely to have grown by 3% in 2Q25

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 10 Jul 2025 at 05:46

Investment bank Citigroup believes the 8% year-on-year growth in gaming revenues generated by Macau’s casino operators in the June quarter will translate to 3% industry EBITDA growth – somewhat tempered by an unfavorable revenue mix due to a rebound in...

Thailand’s casino bill officially on hold after House votes to remove it from agenda

Thailand’s casino bill officially on hold after House votes to remove it from agenda

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 10 Jul 2025 at 05:42

Thailand’s controversial casino bill is officially off the House agenda after members voted in favor of its withdrawal on Wednesday. Local media outlet The Nation reported that the vote took place after two hours of debate, with 253 votes in...

Macau government says ratio of local staff employed by concessionaires in middle and senior positions now at 90%

Macau government says ratio of local staff employed by concessionaires in middle and senior positions now at 90%

by Pierce Chan
Wed 9 Jul 2025 at 19:46

Around 90% of the middle and senior staff of Macau’s six concessionaires are now local employees, the government has revealed. According to information made public by Secretary for Economy and Finance Tai Kin Ip during a plenary session of the...



IAG

© 2005-2024
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

© 2005-2024
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • 中文
  • English