Karaoke rules eased to allow minors with parents during daytime

Karaoke venues could soon welcome minors under 16 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. if accompanied by a parent, under a proposal to reposition them as family-friendly establishments.

Under Macau’s current legislation, karaoke venues are subject to strict entry restrictions for minors, with violating establishments facing substantial administrative fines.

The existing regulatory framework classifies karaoke establishments as businesses requiring a specific operating license from the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), and imposes an absolute ban on entry for minors under 16 and students wearing school uniforms – regardless of age.

Even when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, the law currently provides no exemption. Corporations and groups face fines of up to MOP100,000, while sole proprietors operating in their own name may be fined up to MOP40,000.

In addition, if a venue commits three identical offences within two years, regardless of the fine amount, it will be subject to a one-year prohibition on carrying out the relevant activity.

The restrictions on karaoke venue entry have been in place for nearly 30 years, with MGTO confirming that between 2010 and mid-this month, it had processed 26 penalty cases involving minors under 16 or students in school uniforms entering such establishments.

The public consultation on the “Regulatory Regime for Specific Businesses and Activities” runs until August 19, with the government studying the possibility of relaxing karaoke venue restrictions to allow for a more family-friendly direction.

Speaking on public broadcaster TDM’s radio program yesterday, the head of MGTO’s Licensing and Inspection Department, Chung Chuk Iap, said: “The aim is to strike a balance between protecting minors’ physical and mental health, meeting the needs of parent-child activities, and supporting the diversified and healthy development of the industry.”

Karaoke venues are now seen as general entertainment providers, the tourism official said, based on practical experience and current social and industry trends.

Public consultation sparks debate over gym safety, operating hours

During the public consultation, the regulatory framework for gyms and fitness centers has emerged as a key area of discussion.

Several listeners and radio program hosts raised concerns over the increasingly diverse nature of fitness establishments, noting that many now offer not only traditional gym services but also yoga classes, aerial yoga, ribbon dancing, and ring exercises – activities that carry higher safety risks – and questioned whether current regulations adequately address these evolving safety concerns.

Speaking on yesterday’s program, a Sports Bureau (ID) official responded that existing regulations already set out basic requirements for gyms and fitness centers, including fire safety, first aid provisions, and floor space standards, with most operators already complying with these rules.

However, the bureau acknowledged that as public interest in physical fitness continues to grow, the functions and services offered by fitness establishments have expanded significantly, and there is a need to review whether the current regulatory framework remains fit for purpose.

The consultation document also proposes removing operating hour restrictions for gyms and fitness centers. The official explained that the adjustment takes into account the fact that many residents work shifts and place greater emphasis on physical exercise.

Under the current regulatory framework, spas, steam baths, foot massage parlors, and massage establishments are all subject to a strict licensing regime administered by the MGTO, which oversees their approval and supervision.

However, the consultation document suggests that steam bath facilities could be established as supplementary services within gyms and fitness centers once the new regulations come into force.

Meanwhile, the consultation document proposes that health clubs must in future be located within hotel premises. MGTO explained that of the 36 health clubs currently operating in Macau, 35 are located within hotels, reflecting an industry model that has developed largely in tandem with hotel operations, combining with other hotel facilities to serve family guests.