Macau casino exclusion requests to reach all-time high

Casino exclusion requests set to reach all-time high in 2019; reaching 148 requests in the third quarter.

Macau.- Macanese authorities received a total of 148 requests for exclusion from the city’s casinos in the three months to 30 September 2019, an increase of six requests on the 142 received in the previous quarter, according to latest figures from the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ).

Similarly, this numbers are largely in line with quarterly results throughout 2019, with the 149 received in the first quarter and 142 in the second, taking the current total to 439. Given Macau authorities received 490 requests through all of 2018, it appears this year’s exclusion requests will far exceed previous years.

The third quarter exclusion requests included 129 self-exclusion requests, taking the yearly total to 381; while Third Party exclusion requests numbered 19 for a 2019 total of 58.

The number of exclusion requests received has continued to grow since the scheme was first implemented in 2012, rising from 30 in its first year to 276 in 2013, 280 in 2014, 355 in 2015, 351 in 2016, 376 in 2017 and 490 last year. On current figures, 2019 requests will reach the high 500s.

Under Macau law, an exclusion order can be applied for a maximum of two years before requiring renewal, with fines of up to €1,120 for prohibited persons found violating an order or up to €56,000 for operators.