Each of Macau’s Big 6 casino concessionaires now offers gaming rooms reserved for foreign customers only, Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng confirmed last week.
As reported by GGRAsia, Ho said the city’s government is “aware” that 12 foreigner-only gaming areas have opened so far. He added that officials are “pleased” to see the operators step up to fulfill the terms of their concession renewals, 10-year licenses that began on January 1.
As part of Macau’s new gaming law, the city’s chief executive can reduce casino operators’ taxes by up to 5 percentage points based on gaming revenue derived from foreign visitors. The goal is to diversify Macau’s economy beyond gaming—a longstanding reliance that crippled the city during the Covid-19 shutdowns—and make the city an international tourism destination. Currently, Macau’s gaming industry draws most of its customers from Mainland China and Hong Kong.
Most of the new gaming zones are located at former junket rooms or premium-gaming areas inside the city’s casinos.
In related news, the number of hotel rooms in Macau will increase by 13.5 percent in the next few years. Twelve hotel projects are currently under construction and eight more could be approved shortly. Together they would add 5,240 new hotel rooms to the 39,000 now available, according to information from the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO).
Chief Executive Ho says the city needs more three-star and four-star hotels to facilitate more package tours.
