Macau casinos get ready for the typhoon season

The DICJ conducted field exercises with Macau casinos to get ready as the typhoon season approaches and improve emergency response procedures.

Macau.- The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), conducted field exercises with Macau casinos ahead of the typhoon season. The regulator worked with the territory’s six concessionaires to improve emergency response procedures in all venues during major typhoons.

The DICJ explained drills involved simulations of communication mechanisms with cross-departmental and casino parties. Furthermore, the suspension and re-opening of gaming tables to “enable the supervisory and casino staff of the Bureau to effectively review the overall operational procedures, harmonize operational guidelines and improve them.”

Typhoons’ impact

According to Macau’s Statistics and Census Bureau (DSEC), it is estimated that Typhoon Mangkhut – that hit the territory in September – left €170 million in economic losses.

Direct losses totalled €62.7 million, while indirect losses double that number and hit the €143 million mark. The numbers were calculated on losses of business, games, transport, municipal facilities and public services. DSEC said that information was provided by different government departments and also collected from different sources for analysis and estimations.

September saw the closure of 42 casinos across Macau in order to protect casino workers ahead of the Typhoon. The temporary decision caused GGR to only increase 2.8% year-on-year to €2.4 million.