Macau gaming law consultation sessions resume today

Authorities in Macau have finally resumed the public consultation sessions on gaming laws with the presence of representatives from at least three of the city’s six gaming operators.

Macau.- A new public consultation session on the revision of the city’s gaming law was held today after cancellations due to local Covid-19 cases and Typhoon Kompasu.

Macau’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) said the meeting lasted less than an hour and it was attended by representatives from the government and representatives from Macau’s six gaming operators, although none of the industry representatives spoke.

At a previous session, Macau’s six casino operators asked for more information on the government’s proposed changes to the current city’s gaming laws.

According to Macau Business, this time, one of the speakers was Sariputra Tong Ho Laam, a director at the People’s Youth Association linked to the prominent local Fujian community. She called on casino operators to take up more social responsibilities for the diversification of Macau’s economy.

She also suggested operators could invest in the establishment of three public funds to develop the city’s leisure and entertainment products, projects to accelerate the development of Macau’s smart city and support for local start-ups and young entrepreneurs.

U Sio Chao, secretary-general of the Macau Gaming Industry Young Employees Association, revealed that in an internal survey of members, 90 per cent said they would like authorities to have regulations about management-level executives at gaming operators in the future.

He added that members of the association also want the gaming industry to take on more social responsibilities, and to promise local employment security, the promotion of local employees and assistance to local small and medium-sized enterprises. 

The Secretary-General added that he agreed with the government’s proposal of electing “delegates” to Macau’s gaming concessions to have a “greater checking” limit on the activity of gaming firms.

After Macau’s gaming law revision is finished, there will be 180 days to write the final report, after which a draft will be submitted to the Legislative Assembly for additional conversation.