Macau Horse Race has decided to end its public concession to run horse racing in the city due to a decline in popularity and operational difficulties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Macau.- Authorities in Macau will rescind the horse racing concession contract with Macau Horse Race<\/strong>, the company which operates the Macau Jockey Club (MJC), on April 1.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The secretary for Administration and Justice, Andr\u00e9 Cheong Weng Chon<\/strong>, announced the termination during a press briefing, revealing that the company, facing operational challenges, had voluntarily requested contract termination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Citing a decline in the sport’s popularity and its misalignment with the city’s social development, the government, after careful consideration, accepted the request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Upon contract termination, the land plot and associated facilities will revert to the government at no cost, with all overdue tax payments settled by the company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reclaimed plot will be designated to the government’s land reserve, and a subsequent study will determine its usage, explicitly ruling out casino gaming. Secretary Cheong emphasized that no new public tender will be issued for horse racing concessions in Macau<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Doubts about the future of the MJC have begun to emerge following the announcement that the Singapore Turf Club will close by March 2027<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The MJC, however, had secured a 24-year extension to its concession licence in 2018<\/strong>. This extension carried pledges to invest in infrastructure enhancements and diversification initiatives, including the development of commercial spaces, hotels, theme parks, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2022<\/a>, the MJC reported a loss of MOP2.1bn (US$261.4m), up from MOP1.9bn (US$240m)<\/a>. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and associated travel restrictions was cited as a contributing factor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n