Macau’s foreigner-only gaming zones are likely only transitional arrangements, with the government looking at ways to recognize foreigner play across entire properties, according to MGM China President and Chief Operating Officer Hubert Wang.
Speaking on a panel at G2E Asia in Macau on Tuesday, Wang explained that the current arrangement in which concessionaires have set aside special areas within their casinos for foreigners to play was a transitional arrangement in order to aid the government in tracking revenues for tax purposes.
Concessionaires have established foreigner-only gaming zones this year as part of a government plan to provide tax breaks of up to 5% of GGR for revenue sourced from foreign visitation.
Speaking to Inside Asian Gaming on Tuesday, Wang explained, “From a gaming experience standpoint, it’s far better to allow casino players to go where they like instead of being confined to one area, so that is a long-term goal.
“As long as the casino operators, the concessionaires, have the capability to [track foreign source revenue across entire properties] I think the government will allow that. The numbers must be auditable, they need to be trackable, so these are the prerequisites that need to be met.”
In April Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng confirmed that Macau’s six concessionaires had opened 12 foreigner-only gaming zones between them.
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