• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Friday 27 June 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 Legislative Assembly publishes draft bill on amendments to gaming law

Ben Blaschke by Ben Blaschke
Tue 18 Jan 2022 at 12:11
Macau legislator urges SAR government to introduce online gambling
133
SHARES
3.3k
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Macau’s Legislative Assembly has published the draft bill “Amendment to Law No. 16/2001 – Legal framework for the exploitation of games of chance in casinos” ahead of the re-tendering of the SAR’s casino licenses.

As foreshadowed by Inside Asian Gaming, publication of the draft bill comes just days after the government held a press conference on Friday at which it provided clarity on many key issues. These included confirmation that up to six concessions would be granted following the upcoming re-tendering for casino licenses and that each concession would be for 10 years with the possibility of extending by up to three years under exceptional circumstances.

Among further details contained in the draft bill – published in both Traditional Chinese and Portuguese – are new rules around the future of junkets following Friday’s revelation that dedicated junket rooms in Macau’s casinos and revenue share arrangements between junkets and casino concessionaires will be prohibited under the gaming law amendments.

Those prohibitions are indeed stipulated in the new bill, which forbids gaming promoters “to share, in any form or agreement, with the concessionaires, the revenues from the casinos, or the exclusive exploitation of the areas reserved for the casinos by contract, being limited only to the provision of support to the concessionaires in the promotion of gambling activities in casinos, through commissions.”

In a major change of policy, the Secretary of Economy and Finance will continue issuing junket licenses to approved VIP promoters but will restrict each licensed promoter to “only carry out the activity of promoting games in one concessionaire.” This will significantly weaken the market strength of junket operators compared to years gone by when major junkets operators would have a dedicated VIP room or even multiple rooms in all six concessionaires.

It also prevents gaming promoters from using third parties to conduct business “except in situations deemed necessary by their partners, members of the management body or employees.”

In a further blow to the junket industry, the government will ask concessionaires to administer a 5% withholding tax on all junket commissions. While such a stipulation already exists in Law 16/2001, successive Chief Executives have ordered a lower rate of withholding of less than 1%. IAG understands the full 5% withholding tax will be charged in future upon passing of the amended law.

The bill provides for a maximum number of gaming tables and gaming machines each concessionaire will be authorized to operate each year. This will be closely linked to business volume with the Chief Executive to determine a “minimum annual limit of gross income from each gaming table and gaming machine”. If this minimum annual income is not reached, the concessionaire will be required to make up the difference and if not reached for two consecutive years, the Chief Executive may reduce the number of tables or machines authorized for use.

Concessionaires will also be subject to a review every three years in which Macau’s gaming regulator, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) will examine general contractual compliance. A failure by any concessionaire to comply with the stipulated terms of their contracts, or a lack of proactivity in doing so, will be referred to the Secretary for Economy and Finance.

In what may be the most significant development to emerge from publication of draft bill is the apparent absence of any clear reference to the payment of dividends by concessionaires to their shareholders, typically the wider listed entities operating the entire integrated resorts offering. The government’s initial consultation document, released in August, had included a proposal that concessionaires require government authorization before declaring dividends and was arguably the single most discussed issue among investors in the months that followed.

However, the draft bill does not specifically mention any requirement for dividend approval, with the only reference seemingly associated being a short clause stating, “The concessionaires must inform the Chief Executive before executing any major financial decisions that exceed those stipulated in the contracts.”

On share capital and the shares of concessionaires, Article 17 confirms details released last week increasing the minimum capital each concessionaire must hold from MOP$200 million (US$25 million) to MOP$5 billion (US$625 million). The bill says concessionaires “are obliged to prove that the capital is paid up in cash or bank bill, as well as to present the respective supporting documents”.

It is also stipulated that any intention by concessionaires to explore new business opportunities must first be approved by the Secretary for Economy and Finance. It is unclear whether this refers to gaming operations, either existing or future, in other jurisdictions.

The bill outlines a series of expectations around each concessionaires’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives with the government demanding:

  • Support for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises;
  • Support for the development of diversification of local industries;
  • Ensuring of workers’ rights and interests, namely concerning in-service training and professional advancement of local workers as well as the social security system designed to protect workers;
  • Hiring of disabled or disabled individuals;
  • Support for activities of public interest;
  • Support for activities of an educational, scientific and technological nature, environmental protection, culture and sports, among others.

Concessionaires must “prepare a plan to promote responsible gambling” periodically reviewing and improving said plan and measures. They must also “adopt measures that allow the public, including tourists, to have sufficient information for them to assume a responsible, moderate and controlled posture in the game.” An annual plan to promote responsible gaming for the next year must be submitted to the DICJ as well as a report on the execution of the previous year’s plan.

IAG will publish a number of stories in the coming days clarifying various aspect of the draft bill.

RelatedPosts

Macau hotel room rates soar ahead of Chinese New Year holidays

Macau’s hotel occupancy rate rises 4.5 percentage points to 87.8% in May

Thu 26 Jun 2025 at 19:24
South Shore shareholders convene SGM to vote on winding up of the company

THE 13’s new owner revealed to be family of Rio Hotel chair Loi Keong Kuong

Thu 26 Jun 2025 at 19:23
Wynn opens Macau’s first Korean medical center at Wynn Palace

Wynn opens Macau’s first Korean medical center at Wynn Palace

Thu 26 Jun 2025 at 05:57
Buyer of Macau’s THE 13 Hotel plans extensive renovations, addition of world-renowned restaurants

Buyer of Macau’s THE 13 Hotel plans extensive renovations, addition of world-renowned restaurants

Wed 25 Jun 2025 at 18:49
Load More
Tags: concessionairesdraft billGaming LawJunketsLegislative Assemblylicense re-tenderingMacau
Share53Share9
Ben Blaschke

Ben Blaschke

A former sports journalist in Sydney, Australia, Ben has been Managing Editor of Inside Asian Gaming since early 2016. He played a leading role in developing and launching IAG Breakfast Briefing in April 2017 and oversees as well as being a key contributor to all of IAG’s editorial pursuits.

Current Issue

Behind the curtain

Behind the curtain

by Newsdesk
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 12:40

Hospitality logistics firm BCI Worldwide has firmly established its presence in Macau, playing a part in some of the city’s...

Of fortune or misfortune

Of fortune or misfortune

by Pierce Chan
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 12:32

At the beginning of June, the Macau government announced that all 11 of the city’s satellite casinos would be shut...

10 years ago – Tricky balance

10 years ago – Tricky balance

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 12:17

In this regular feature in IAG to celebrate 20 years covering the Asian gaming and leisure industry, we look back...

Editorial – Foreigner-only casinos: Seize the day

Editorial – Foreigner-only casinos: Seize the day

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 29 May 2025 at 13:38

I was recently asked by someone working at a foreigner-only casino for my thoughts on the outlook for the Asian...

Evolution Asia
Aristocrat
GLI
SABA
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
NWR
Jumbo
568Win

Related Posts

More fun in the Philippines

IAG EXPO – Exhibitor registration closing soon!

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 06:31

The cut-off for exhibitors to confirm their participation at the inaugural IAG Exhibition, part of IAG EXPO, closes next Monday 30 June 2025. Don’t miss out on this important event for the Asian gaming industry. All companies who exhibit at IAG Exhibition in...

Inside Thai IRs

Thailand’s Entertainment Complex Bill now at bottom of parliamentary agenda

by Newsdesk
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 06:26

Thailand’s Entertainment Complex Bill will now sit at the bottom of the list of agenda items to be discussed by the House when it convenes after being deprioritized. It will not fall off the agenda completely, however, because this can...

Far East given green light to spin-off and list Czech casino business on Hong Kong Stock Exchange

Hong Kong listed Palasino reports slight increase in revenue, profit in FY25 thanks to growing slot machine count

by Newsdesk
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 06:13

Palasino Holdings Limited, the Hong Kong-listed gaming firm spun off from Hong Kong real estate giant Far East Consortium, has reported a profit of HK$15 million for the year ended 31 March 2025, slightly more than the HK$9 million reported...

FBM launches slot title “Croc’s Lock” into Mexico

FBM launches slot title “Croc’s Lock” into Mexico

by Newsdesk
Fri 27 Jun 2025 at 06:00

Gaming supplier FBM has announced the launch of its latest slot machine title, “Croc’s Lock”, into Mexico. Croc’s Lock is a 30-line slot based around the character Super Croc. Working with 15 independent reels, it offers gaming sessions where Super...



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