Macau legislators Urge Govt to Provide More Information About Changes on Casino Licence Criteria

Amid growing speculation that Macau will extend its current gaming concessions, a subcommittee of the Macau Legislative Assembly has issued a report with recommendations for the government.

The report suggests authorities should give more information about changes to the licence criteria and the extension of current gaming concessions. Members also suggested authorities should not rush to renew licences, arguing that this might result in “lower-quality” bids for the city’s gaming rights.

Macau’s current casino licences will expire in June 2022 but could be extended for up to five years under the city’s gaming laws.

In July, Macau’s secretary for economy and finance said a public consultation on gaming law will be held in the second half of this year. Now, the committee of legislators urged the government to announce an exact date “to avoid causing constant doubts in society”.

Last November, authorities insisted that the public tender to renew casino licences would not be delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and that new legislation would be ready in time for when licences expire in 2022.

However, that will depend on the length of the public consultation and the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections. Several industry experts believe the process will be delayed until after the elections so that new legislators will be in charge of amending Macau’s gaming law.