On February 23, Macau’s Galaxy Entertainment Group said that construction work on Phase 3 of Galaxy Macau is now “virtually completed,” but the addition is not ready to open now, and may not do so this year.
According to Inside Asian Gaming, information in Galaxy’s fourth-quarter results indicate that amenities will open to the public based on “prevailing market conditions”—which factors in the impact of Covid-19.
At a press conference, Galaxy Vice Chairman Francis Lui observed, “Eventually we will have the support of the government to open, so the permits can be issued in a timely manner for us. But the date of commissioning is not entirely within our control. As long as the pandemic is under control and visitors return to Macau, I’m sure our government will support more visitors coming to Macau.
“For Phase 3, the majority of the facilities are non-gaming in nature,” Lui added. “We are looking forward to that and we want to position ourselves from a new angle with our new facility, new design and new features to attract new customers to come to Macau.”
Galaxy Chairman Lui Che Woo said the company hopes to open Phase 3 this year, but it’s possible the debut could be pushed to early 2022.
Galaxy Macau Phase 3 will include the all-suite Raffles at Galaxy Macau, the Galaxy International Convention Center, and the Andaz Macau hotel, plus other gaming and non-gaming facilities.
In related news, Galaxy announced that it has severed all its VIP junket agreements. In a statement, the company said, “At the moment we no longer have any business with junket operators or the so-called VIP lounges.”
The move followed increased regulatory oversight by authorities towards VIP gaming junket promoters and the arrests of Alvin Chau and Levo Chan, heads of the city’s two largest junket firms, Suncity and Tak Chun. Chau was arrested in December and charged with cross-border gambling, organized crime and money laundering. Chan was arrested in January on similar charges. Both are detained in Coloane Prison in Macau.
The arrests had a chilling effect on junkets throughout the city. After the Chau arrest, junket rooms closed across Macau, and gaming operators Sands China, Melco Resorts and Wynn Macau also terminated agreements with VIP promoters.
Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong said last year that agreements between junket operators and gaming concessionaires will still be allowed in the future if the junkets “fulfill all legal requirements.”
Under a proposed new gaming law bill, gaming promoters will only be allowed to operate with one gaming concessionaire. The draft bill also bans junkets from using third parties to do business unless “deemed necessary by their partners, members of the management body or employees.” In addition, on a monthly basis gaming concessionaires will need to submit details regarding the commissions paid to junkets in the previous month.
The draft bill was approved by Macau’s Legislative Assembly and is under review before a final vote.
