If any of the holders of the gaming concessions were expecting some kind of declaration about how the Macau government would handle the concession renewals, which begin in 2020, they had to be disappointed. Macau Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On delivered his annual policy address for the upcoming year, and all he could promise was more deliberation.
“Taking into consideration that the existing gaming concession contracts expire in either 2020 or 2022, we will strengthen the studies on this matter, and garner the community’s opinion about this issue,” said Chui had on the situation.
“Before the licences expire by 2022, we will be launching the tender process. Regarding those licences that expire two years earlier (in 2020), we’re studying how to deal with it,” he said. “There is still some time to go before 2020 and 2022. We will inform the public about this matter in an open and transparent manner.”
Two studies have already been commissioned by the Macau government—both due this year—but there has been no release of details or conclusions reached by the researchers.
The two concessions that are scheduled to expire in 202o include SJM, which operates the Lisboa properties and were founded by the original Macau gambling magnate Stanley Ho, and MGM China, which included Stanley Ho’s daughter, Pansy Ho, as a partner.
SJM CEO Ambrose So says he is appealing for a two-year extension so that all the Macau licensees would face the same deadline.
Chui emphasized that the Macau government would still urge casino companies to increase their non-gaming amenities, so to appeal to a broader base of customers, not just gamblers. At the same time, he said oversight of the important junket operators would continue to increase, saying his administration would “strengthen supervision of junket operations.”
