Author: Daniel Beitler, MDT
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Activists: Macau is ‘unconvincing example’ of One Country, Two Systems
According to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Hong Kong has a lot to learn from Macau when it comes to the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ policy framework, ... -
Beijing loyalist Ho Iat Seng takes helm in Macau
Ho Iat Seng was inaugurated today as the third Chief Executive of the Macau Special Administrative Region since the territory’s return to Chinese rule in 1999. ... -
Gaming Mid-month checks show December GGR faring poorly
Mid-month channel checks indicate that pressure on Macau’s gambling sector will persist this December, with the data supporting predictions of a double-digit drop in gross gaming ... -
Macau wins bronze at esports football tournament
Macau won a bronze medal at a high-profile international esports championship in Seoul last weekend, losing only one match to the eventual champion from Iran. Thirty-three ... -
Macau-bound visitors ditch ferry travel for HZMB
Six out of every 10 visitors from Hong Kong say they are dropping ferry travel to Macau in favor of the land route made possible by ... -
Setback for diversification as casino influence grows
Gaming and junket activities accounted for over half of Macau’s industrial structure last year, in yet another setback in the city’s goal of building a diversified ... -
Teenagers spend December in rehearsals ahead of handover ceremony
School’s out earlier than usual this December for some local teenagers, who have been asked to step away from the classroom for a large part of ... -
HK journalist held at border prior to Pereira Coutinho interview
A Hong Kong journalist was held by immigration authorities for nearly three hours yesterday while attempting to enter the Macau special administrative region. Phila Siu, a ... -
Gaming | Analysts: Xi Jinping visit to dampen December revenue
A consensus is forming among analysts that the upcoming visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month will spell bad news for Macau’s visitor count and ... -
Q&A | Li Shaohong: A reflection of life across the border
For at least one brief moment in this city’s recent history, Macau offered something entirely unique and perhaps irreplaceable: it was a mirror reflecting the lives ... -
Macau’s rapid education improvement has a dark side
Macau’s rapid rise into the top three in the latest round of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), announced earlier this week, has been described ... -
Lionel Leong offers advice to successor: put the people first
Outgoing Secretary for Economy and Finance Lionel Leong said yesterday that if his successor puts the needs of the people first then “everything will be on ... -
Ambrose So uncertain what new economy chief means for gaming
The Chief Executive Officer of SJM Holdings said yesterday that it was too early to tell what the Sunday appointment of Lei Wai Nong as Secretary ... -
Gaming | November casino revenue plunge to extend into December
Macau gross gaming revenue plummeted 8.5% in November, as high-roller demand crumpled amid persistent economic headwinds in the SAR. Casino revenue topped 22.87 billion patacas ($2.84 ... -
Gaming | Japan: Hokkaido withdraws from integrated resort opportunity
Hokkaido has become the first Japanese prefecture to pull out of the upcoming integrated resort opportunity after its governor said Friday that differences of opinion on ... -
Gaming | November on track for steep contraction
November is reportedly on track to become the worst month for gross gaming revenue growth since March 2016. That’s according to analysts at two firms, ... -
Tourism | Master Plan objectives mostly implemented, claims local authority
Macau’s tourism authority has claimed an implementation rate of 81% concerning the actions and objectives outlined in the Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan, since the ... -
Macau cuts benchmark interest rate for third time this year
The Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) has cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points, following an identical decision six weeks ago. Yesterday’s lowering of ... -
One year, two visits China said to offer rendezvous in Macau for Trump trade deal
U.S. President Donald Trump was expected to sign an interim trade deal with his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit ... -
Gaming – Philippines | Suncity buys majority stake in Manila integrated resort project
Hong Kong’s Suncity Group Holdings has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in a Philippines company, with which it will co-develop and then operate a ... -
Britcham Macau | Rebranding will help capitalize on Brexit, Greater Bay winds
The British Chamber of Commerce in Macao, to be known in short as Britcham Macau, celebrated its rebranding last night, with its members toasting to new ... -
Gaming | Fitch: casino operators might face ‘onerous’ terms under new licenses
Fitch Ratings has said that Las Vegas Sands will very likely secure a new Macau concession once its current arrangement expires in June 2022. However, the ... -
Gaming | Poor Golden Week show may weigh on October revenue
A slowdown in the VIP segment in the past week may weigh on October gross gaming revenue, according to preliminary industry estimates. Analysts say that gross ... -
Gaming | Gross gaming revenue touches lowest level in a year
Macau gross gaming revenue touched the lowest level in a year last month, but nevertheless registered growth in what has been a mostly red year. September ... -
Q&A | Professor Bo J. Bernhard: Verdict still out on city-wide casino entry ban
Without adequate research it is hard to predict whether the latest measure designed to curb problem gambling in Macau, a city-wide casino entry ban, will prove ... -
Sands China oversees 122 staff trained in responsible gaming
Casino operator Sands China yesterday wrapped up its seventh annual Responsible Gaming Ambassador Advanced Training program, adding 122 certified employees to its growing ambassador roster. Over ... -
Secretive gaming directive might fall outside the law
The gaming regulator has formally instructed local casino operators and junkets not to transfer “gaming-related information” to any third parties without first obtaining approval from the ... -
Tourism | Double-digit visitor growth shows signs of slowing
This year’s rapid growth in visitor arrivals decelerated markedly in August, growing just 6.5% year-on-year compared to 16.3% year-on-year in July. The slowdown follows an ... -
Gaming | Japan: Osaka race narrows to just three: MGM, Galaxy, Genting
The race to develop an integrated resort in the city of Osaka has reportedly narrowed to just three players: MGM Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment Group and Genting ... -
Gaming | Morgan Stanley warns 2019 dip not over yet
The 2019 dip in gross gaming revenues is not over yet, Morgan Stanley warned in a report earlier this week, as it slashed its growth expectations ... -
Tourism | Thailand delays visitor tax citing possible deterrent effect
As Macau continues to search for better ways to accommodate a record-breaking number of visitor arrivals this year, the government in Thailand has decided to delay ... -
Gross gaming revenue headed for September rebound
Gross gaming revenue might be heading for a September rebound, market analysts suggested yesterday, on signs of a VIP recovery. The news comes as Macau’s Secretary ... -
Lionel Leong warns economic headwinds to persist into Q3
Macau will continue to face economic headwinds into the third quarter, warned the Secretary for Economy and Finance yesterday, following dual revelations in past weeks that ... -
Gaming | Sands China, Galaxy retain lead in market share
Sands China and Galaxy Entertainment Group defended their top-tier positions in gaming market share during the first half of 2019, with the two retaining control of ... -
Gaming revenue tumbles 8.6% in fastest decline of 2019
Gross gaming revenue tumbled 8.6% year-on-year in August to 24.26 billion patacas ($3 billion), according to official data released yesterday, owing partly to a difficult comparison ...
