Macau concessionaire SJM Resorts will take over the operations of three casinos previously run by Chan Meng Kam’s Golden Dragon Group.
Inside Asian Gaming has learned that SJM will operate Casino Golden Dragon, Casino Royal Dragon and Casino Million Dragon – which had previously been set to close – until 31 December 2022.
According to a source, the arrangement will be similar to that of Grand Emperor Hotel which announced this week that SJM would take over casino operations while hotel, retail and F&B would be run by the previous operating firm.
The fortunes of Macau’s 18 satellite casinos – of which 14 have been run under the license of SJM – continues to evolve after the government amended the rules governing their operations. Under the SAR’s new gaming law, satellites may no longer participate in revenue share arrangements with concessionaires, with a three-year transitional period for existing satellite casinos during which revenue sharing will still be permitted.
This had led to some satellite casinos announcing plans to cease operations, although SJM appears keen to prevent such a scenario.
Aside from the 14 satellite casinos run under SJM’s license, three have been operated via Galaxy Entertainment Group’s license and one under that of Melco Resorts.
Galaxy revealed this week that it was shuttering two of its satellite casinos in Rio and President. The future of the one remaining Galaxy satellite casino – Waldo – and that of the sole Melco satellite casino – Grand Dragon – remain unclear.
