• 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
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
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

Macau industry figure says opening back up to Hong Kong must become top priority

Pierce Chan by Pierce Chan
Tue 13 Dec 2022 at 19:30
Ferry services between Macau and Hong Kong suspended
60
SHARES
1.5k
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

With Macau finally starting to ease some long-standing COVID-19 restrictions in recent weeks, its next priority must be fully opening back up to Hong Kong, according to a well-known gaming industry representative.

Song Wai Kit, President of the Responsible Gaming Association, told Inside Asian Gaming that allowing those who test positive to isolate at home was a step in the right direction, allowing Macau locals to feel more optimistic about the future.

But he said the next step must be removing barriers to travel within the greater China region, with current rules still requiring arrivals from Hong Kong into Macau to follow “5+3” measures – five days of hotel quarantine and three more isolating at home.

“The most important thing for Macau now is to resume normal immigration with Hong Kong,” Song said.

“We also have to pay attention to the resumption of electronic visas from the mainland and there is the issue of capital control, but on the whole Macau is moving in a good direction.”

Asked what the coming months might hold for Macau, Song explained, “I don’t think there will be much change in GGR this month, mainly because the Macau community is still adjusting to the new policy and everyone is wary of the virus.

“I have higher hopes that the economy will improve next year and I believe it will be better than this year, but Macau really needs to open up to Hong Kong as soon as possible.”

Aside from introducing home isolation, the Macau government has also scrapped a key gaming industry guideline that had required a distance of one meter be maintained between casino patrons, temperature and health code checks before entry and patron numbers to be capped at 50% of capacity. The discontinuation of this guideline by the Health Bureau means Macau’s casinos are no longer subject to any crowd restrictions.

However, the “5+3” measure remains in place for all non-mainland arrivals, while those who do enter from the mainland must obtain a negative COVID test within 24 hours prior.

Song said many testing stations in Macau and the mainland have been closed which was causing unnecessary inconvenience for mainland visitors to Macau, suggesting instead that the government consider the necessity of such testing.

He also highlighted the disparity in requiring non-mainland arrivals who test negative to quarantine in hotels while those already in Macau who test positive are able to stay home.

Despite recent policy changes, the local Macau community is for the most part maintaining the same pandemic prevention measures as before. People are still being asked to show their health codes when entering shopping malls, hotels and casinos, and the government has even strengthened the prevention measures for hospitals and public employees.

By contrast, Hong Kong announced on Tuesday that its “0+3” isolation policy for foreign arrivals would become “0+0” from Wednesday, removing the last major barrier for travelers to the SAR.

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
The 2023 Asian Gaming Power 50: Ones to watch

Hong Kong Stock Exchange deems Andrew Lo unsuitable to be director of LET Group or Summit Ascent due to attempted Tigre de Cristal sale

Tue 16 Sep 2025 at 15:14
Load More
Tags: Border controlscovid-19Hong KongMacauquarantineSong Wai Kit
Share24Share4
Pierce Chan

Pierce Chan

With more than five years’ experience working as a journalist in Macau, Pierce is an experienced media operator with strong skills in news writing and editing. He previously worked with Exmoo, first as a reporter covering government, gaming and tourism-related stories, then as a Deputy Assignment Editor helping set the agenda of the day. Pierce is a graduate of the University of Macau.

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

Interview with Newport World Resorts’ Nilo Thaddeus Rodriguez

Interview with Newport World Resorts’ Nilo Thaddeus Rodriguez

by Newsdesk
Wed 17 Sep 2025 at 19:04

IAG sat down with Nilo Thaddeus Rodriguez – the President and CEO of Newport World Resorts – to discuss the property’s recent market share gains and what new features and attractions we can expect to see in the coming months.

Genting sued by partner in Bahamas casino Resorts World Bimini for alleged “massive and co-ordinated fraud”

Genting Malaysia looks to dismiss amended complaint filed by partner in Bahamas casino-resort, says no new material elements introduced

by Ben Blaschke
Wed 17 Sep 2025 at 19:02

Genting Malaysia has filed a motion to dismiss an Amended Complaint filed against it by a key partner in its Bahamas casino-resort, Resorts World Bimini (RWB), arguing that the complaint only repeats previously dismissed allegations. In a company announcement on...

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...

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

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
  • 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.

  • English