Macau satellite casinos to shut by year-end, government says
The government said it will give “full assistance” to employees affected.
Macau.- The government of Macau has announced it has received notifications from SJM Resorts, Melco Resorts and Galaxy Entertainment Group that 11 satellite casinos will close by the end of the year..
The casinos are: SJM’s Casino Grandview, Casino Legend Palace, Casino Fortuna, Casino Landmark, Casino Ponte 16, Casino Le Royal Arc, Casino Emperor Palace, Casino Kam Pek Paradise and Casino Casa Real; Melco’s Casino Grand Dragon and Galaxy’s Casino Waldo.
According to the government, the three gaming concessionaires have agreed to adequately compensate employees affected and the Labour Affairs Bureau will monitor the situation to ensure that their rights and interests are met.
The government said: “At present, there is a total of about 5,600 local employees working at the satellite casinos; among them, around 4,800 local employees are hired by the gaming concessionaires and deployed to work at the satellite casinos, and around 800 local employees are directly hired by the satellite casino operators. The SAR Government has required the three gaming concessionaires to make proper arrangements and fully absorb their employees deployed, so as to ensure their continuous employment. At the same time, the satellite casino operators also have the responsibilities to make proper arrangements for their directly hired local employees.”
SJM Resorts said it intends to acquire the properties where Casino L’Arc Macau and Casino Ponte 16 are located and will apply to operate them as directly-managed casinos. Negotiations have not yet commenced.
The company added: “Regardless of the outcome of negotiations for the above potential acquisitions, all gaming tables and slot machines from affected satellite casinos will be reallocated to SJM Resorts’ self-owned casinos.
“SJM Resorts is committed to safeguarding local employment in Macau. All Macau residents currently working at the satellite casinos scheduled for closure, regardless of whether they are directly employed by SJM Resorts or by its third-party partners, will be offered job opportunities within SJM Resorts’ portfolio of properties. Those who are already SJM Resorts’ employees will retain their employment and be reassigned to similar gaming-related roles at other casinos based 2 on operational needs. Non-SJM Resorts’ staff who are local residents will also be invited to apply for suitable positions of the group.”
