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Perspetivas para 2025

 nov24 The Macau government’s forecast  MOP240 billion   (US$29.9 billion) for 2025 casino gross gaming revenue (GGR)  is “definitely achievable” and is a “conservative estimate”. So said the city’s current leader, Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng (pictured) in a Tuesday press conference. The 2025 budget plan had been outlined to the city’s Legislative Assembly, shortly before the media briefing. Mr Ho told legislators that the 2025 budget outline had been agreed with his successor Sam Hou Fai, fomerly the city’s most senior judge, who is due to  take over as the city’s leader  next month. Mr Ho had also on Tuesday given legislators  a report on the government’s work for the current year. Mr Ho told the subsequent press conference that to reach circa MOP220 billion in GGR for 2024 was within expectations, adding: “The forecast we made for next year is not such a big increase… MOP240 billion [in 2025 GGR] is definitely achievable…it is a conservative estimate.” He noted the 2024 GGR forecast
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new tour guide law

 niv24 A Assembleia Legislativa está a rever a Lei que regula a atividade das agências de  viagens  e o exercício da profissão de guia turístico, com algumas das novas penalizações propostas a causarem preocupações na indústria. Segundo o projeto de lei, os guias turísticos que não usem claramente o seu cartão de licença podem enfrentar multas entre dez e 20 mil patacas, havendo outras violações também sujeitas a penalizações elevadas. Membros da indústria contestam valores muito superiores aos das infrações mais graves noutras regulamentações administrativas da RAEM, superando penalizações correspondentes na China continental e em Hong Kong. O presidente da Associação da Indústria Turística de Macau diz ao PLATAFORMA que estas multas “desproporcionais” têm causado preocupação entre os profissionais da indústria. Ng Iong Wai revela que membros do setor já escreveram protestos à Direção dos Serviços de Turismo e planeiam reunir-se com deputados para expressar as suas preocupações. O rep
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Sam Hou Fai

 out24  (Risk analyst predicts tough times for casinos) A top Hong Kong-based security consultancy predicts Macao’s incoming government will intensify the push for economic diversification at the expense of foreign-owned gaming concessionaires, their investors and the myriad of downstream businesses reliant on the gaming industry in the SAR. Steve Vickers Associates (SVA)  issued a memo  on Monday recommending that boards and executives with investments in Macao (as well as Hong Kong and the mainland) stay alert to growing risks associated with state intervention and measures introduced to prevent capital flight. SVA urged potentially impacted companies to “anticipate threats” in order to mitigate any potential losses. The firm claimed that Macao’s newly-elected chief executive designate, Sam Hou Fai, would “likely expedite measures forcing the six casino concessionaires to diversify and contribute more to social causes” in response to policy pressures from Beijing.  https://macaonews.
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Are tour groups charging entry fees for casinos?

 out24 Mainland tour group visitors have recently complained on social media that they were asked for entry fees by tour guides when entering casinos in Macau. In response,  Helena de Senna Fernandes , Head of the Macao Government Tourism Office ( MGTO ), announced on Sunday that an investigation will be launched to address these illegal practices. According to a complaint found by AGB on China’s social media platform Xiaohongshu, a netizen reported being charged RMB200 ($28) for entry to The Venetian Macau. Speaking to local media outlets, Fernandes acknowledged the concerning posts and stated that authorities would investigate whether the actions stemmed from local travel agencies or cross-border tour guides. She emphasized that inspections will be carried out. Fernandes explained that if local travel agencies are found responsible, they will face fines, and depending on the severity of the situation, their licenses could be affected. If non-local tour guides are involved, different
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Online gaming

 out24 The Macau government “does not have any plans” to grant a public concession for “online gaming”. The point was spelled out in an opinion document issued by a committee of the city’s Legislative Assembly prior to  Wednesday’s passing  of the “Law to Combat Crimes of Illegal Gambling”. The opinion document stated, quoting the local government: “To date, the Macau SAR [Special Administrative Region] Government has not granted any concession for the exploration of online gaming and betting, nor does it have any plans to grant a concession for online gaming.” Separate from the legal concept of a public concession for online gaming, the new law specifically mentions a ban on any operation or promotion of unauthorised online gambling activities. It says anyone who – without government authorisation – “explores, promotes or organises” online gambling or online mutual betting in Macau is liable on conviction to a prison sentence ranging from one year up to eight years, regardless of whet
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Casas de câmbio

 out24 As 10 casas de câmbio autorizadas a operar na RAEM registaram um lucro líquido conjunto de 37,7 milhões de patacas no exercício financeiro de 2023, interrompendo assim um ciclo de três anos consecutivos com resultados negativos, revela o relatório anual da Autoridade Monetária de Macau (AMCM). Depois de terem lucrado 54,8 milhões de patacas em 2019, as casas de câmbio não resistiram ao impacto da pandemia e acumularam prejuízos totais de 72 milhões nos três anos seguintes, incluindo 31,1 milhões em 2020, 34,2 milhões em 2021 e 6,7 milhões em 2022. Apesar do aumento dos casos de troca ilegal de moeda e da popularização dos meios de pagamento móvel, as casas de câmbio conseguiram sair do “vermelho” no ano passado graças ao crescimento da procura de serviços do sector, na sequência da “normalização” das actividades turísticas. Consequentemente, os activos totais do sector subiram 19,1% para 200 milhões de patacas face ao ano precedente, indica a AMCM. De acordo com os mesmos dados,
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Mark Six é ilegal?

out24 The Judiciary Police (PJ) discovered that someone had been posting information on online social platforms concerning a gambling website titled “Macao Mark Six.” PJ reiterates that the Macao government has never approved any company to operate “Macao Mark Six.” All websites operating under the name of “Macau Mark Six” are fraudulent and illegal. The Judiciary Police Anti-Fraud Coordination Centre urges the public to take precautions against such websites. If you are suspicious of any website, you can use the Anti-Fraud Program released by the Macao Judiciary Police to check the risk index or provide police with tips. You can also call PJ’s Anti-fraud enquiry hotline at 88007777 or Crime report hotline at 993 for assistance. https://www.gov.mo/en/news/345954/ out24 Hong Kong’s popular lottery game Mark Six will be explicitly banned from being sold in Macau under a new  bill  recently passed to combat illicit gambling activities. Any operations or sales related to Mark Six, a game o
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