SJM responsible for Grand Emperor Hotel casino layoffs
Macau’s Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) says SJM will have to take the necessary diligence to safeguard the rights of dismissed workers.
Macau.- Macau’s Labour Affairs Bureau has stressed that the gaming concessionaire SJM has a duty to protect the rights of laid-off workers following the closure of the casino at Grand Emperor Hotel. Emperor Entertainment’s service contract with gaming franchisee SJM, will expire on June 26 and will not be renewed.
The company cited “the gloomy outlook of the high-end gaming segment” as one of the reasons for not renewing its service contract with SJM. Its hospitality business in will remain operational but according to local media reports, about 500 casino employees will be affected by the casino closure.
The Labour Affairs Bureau said: “The DSAL is very attentive to the case and has already contacted the hotel and the gaming concessionaire, to follow up on the matter as soon as possible.”
A week ago, gaming industry sources told Chinese-language newspaper the Macau Daily that seven satellite casinos plan to suspend operations by mid-year. The decisions are due to the negative impact of repeated Covid-19 outbreaks, tighter visa requirements in the city, the lack of cash flow and new rules proposed under Macau’s gaming law amendment bill.
Golden Dragon Group has announced it will close its casinos Golden Dragon, Royal Dragon and Casino Million Dragon under SJM Holdings’ licence and Grand Dragon Casino in Taipa under Melco Resorts.
Macau junkets could become Vegas-style agents, analysts say
Professor Wang Changbin, director of the Centre for Gaming and Tourism Studies at Macao Polytechnic University, has told GGRAsia that junket operators could become mere agents in the future, introducing players to the city’s casinos. The relationship would then be directly managed by the casinos themselves.
He said the system would work like the independent agents that work in Las Vegas. There, independent agents not part of the casinos are authorised to deal with operators to bring in quality players. Inside the casinos themselves, casino hosts deal with the players.
