Associations support casino law revision

A broad agreement supporting a proposal to amend a law that regulates who can enter, work and gamble in Macau’s casinos has been reached during a meeting between the government and 11 local associations representing casino employee interests held last week.
The revision to Law No. 10/2012 – “Regulating the Conditions of Entering, Working and Gaming at Casinos” would add a new provision banning gaming workers from taking part in any gaming related activities inside casinos during non-work hours.
At the meeting, the representatives of the associations indicated a general agreement with the idea, saying it would help minimize the risk of those workers becoming problem gamblers and would – in the long run – help maintain a healthy development of the gaming industry.
One association, the Macau Gaming Industry Frontline Workers, presented the results of a survey at the meeting, showing that 77 percent of some 3,044 casino workers who were interviewed supported the revision.
The director of the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), Paulo Martins Chan, said that the government is carefully examining the possibility of negative influences affecting the local community, as a result of being exposed to gaming, according to a statement from the Government Information Bureau (GCS). As such, the relevant authorities will continue to review legislation.
Currently, casino operators typically bar their own workers from gambling in their own workplace, however the proposed amendment could see the ban being applied universally across the city’s casinos.
The statement from GCS also noted that members of public are welcome to contribute their opinions regarding the potential revision by contacting DICJ. DB