The operators of Macau’s satellite casinos have responded to the news that they will be shuttered by year’s end, with some outlining plans to diversify their businesses or expand other offerings in an effort to generate new revenue streams.
Among the hardest hit is Paradise Entertainment, operator of Casino Kam Pek Paradise on the Macau peninsula, which noted in a filing that its casino management arm had generated revenue of HK$718.3 million in 2024, representing 66.2% of group-wide revenue.
The loss of its satellite business, operated since 2007, will result in “a material reduction in the reported revenue and profit attributable to the shareholders of the company [from] 1 January 2026,” the company said.
Paradise is also the parent company of gaming product supplier LT Game, which specializes in live multi-game terminals, stating that it “remains committed to its strategic focus on the development, sale and leasing of electronic gaming equipment and systems in both Macau and overseas markets, where the Group has been expanding progressively, and the Board believes that this segment holds significant potential for growth in future.
“The Group is actively enhancing its product offerings and seeking partnerships that will further strengthen its position in the gaming industry. Additionally, the Group is dedicated to exploring alternative business opportunities to diversify its operations and mitigate risks.”
Emperor E Hotel Limited, operator of nearby Grand Emperor Hotel, said it has been informed by SJM of the decision to cease satellite operations on Monday, with the Emperor E board now “actively exploring any suitable business opportunities.”
Macau Legend Development Ltd, which owns the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf precinct and has run satellite casino operations for SJM at Legend Palace since 2017, has already outlined in recent times uncertainty over its ability to continue as a going concern due to mounting losses but insisted it can pivot to other business segments in the future.
That’s despite noting that segment EBITDA from the casino segment was a profit of HK$15 million for the first four months of 2025.
The company said it believes the impact of the termination of its agreement with SJM can be mitigated because it had already anticipated lower gaming revenue had satellite casinos continued under management agreements rather than revenue share agreements in 2026, as had been dictated under Macau’s revised gaming laws.
It added that the group’s resources would “continue to be allocated to optimize the facilities of the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf, enhancing the exclusive experience of the waterfront complex and improving its flexibility to host large-scale events, and expects to increase revenues from non-gaming business including hotel, convention and exhibition, food and beverage and leasing of the then available premises in the forthcoming financial year.”
While announcing the cessation of all satellite casino services on Monday, SJM explained that it would seek to acquire the properties at which two of its satellites, Ponte 16 and L’Arc Macau, are located with a view of transforming them into “owned” casinos.
Success Universe Group Limited, which holds a 49% stake in Ponte 16 operator Pier 16 – Property Development Limited (SJM holds the remaining 51%), confirmed “no definitive and/or legally binding agreements or contracts in respect of the SJM’s proposed acquisition have been entered into by Pier 16 – Property Development Limited and no detailed terms have been negotiated in respect of the same.”
Nine of Macau’s 11 satellite casinos are operated under the license of SJM, with the concessionaire stating Monday that “regardless of the outcome of negotiations for the [two] potential acquisitions, all gaming tables and slot machines from affected satellite casinos will be reallocated to SJM Resorts’ self-owned casinos.”
Acquisition by SJM remains the only option for Ponte 16 and L’Arc Macau to continue offering gaming services or face the same fate as the other nine satellites currently operated by SJM, Galaxy and Melco.
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