Cronologia
Macau's government will sign contracts with the six winning casino concessionaires on Friday, which include Sands China, Wynn Macau, Galaxy Entertainment, MGM China, Melco Resorts, and SJM Holdings. Just last month, the government awarded the six casino operators 10-year licenses that run from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2033.
28/7/22
The Chief Executive published an executive order opening a new public tender to award six gaming concessions. Bidders can submit their proposals between July 29 and September 14.
In the order published in the Official Gazette today, authorities noted that the concessions’ term is capped at 10 years, as stated in the newly approved gaming law.
The city’s current six gaming concessions and sub-concessions will expire by the end of this year.
The order also noted all interested parties should submit their bids by no later than 5:45 pm on September 14 with a security deposit of at least MOP10 million (US$1.25 million).
https://www.macaubusiness.com/breaking-news-govt-launches-public-tender-to-award-gaming-concessions/
21jun22
Members of Macau’s Legislative Assembly approved on Tuesday, via a second-reading debate and final vote at a plenary meeting (pictured), a government-backed bill to revise the city’s gaming law. The amendments to the gaming law were approved by the 32 legislators present at the meeting, during more than two hours of debate.
https://www.ggrasia.com/macau-legislators-nod-final-reading-of-gaming-bill/
ab22
RUI CUNHA DIZ QUE SERÁ DIFÍCIL CONCURSO DO JOGO ATÉ FIM DO ANO
23/3/22
The President of the Standing Committee of Macau’s Legislative Assembly (AL), Chan Chak Mo, revealed Tuesday that discussions on the first draft of the gaming law had now been completed with the government to submit the second draft to the Committee in April.
The General Assembly of the AL has promised to pass the amended gaming law before 26 June 2022, which will allow sufficient time for the government to run its re-tendering process in the second half of this year.
https://www.asgam.com/index.php/2022/03/23/macau-legislative-assembly-concludes-first-reading-of-gaming-law-amendments/
mar22
Brokerage JP Morgan Securities said on Thursday it now expected a new public tender process for Macau casino rights to commence in the third quarter this year, with permits to be awarded in the fourth quarter, ready for a new 10-year licence period coinciding with the start of 2023.
In the third quarter, the Macau government’s “key asks” on investment should be revealed to licence suitors, added analysts DS Kim, Amanda Cheng and Livy Lyu.
https://www.ggrasia.com/macau-new-gaming-tender-likely-to-start-3q-jp-morgan/
3/3/22
Casino companies in Macau will have their licences extended by six months, public broadcaster TDM reported on Thursday, citing a city official, allowing more time for a highly anticipated rebidding process in the world's biggest casino hub.
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/macau-government-extends-casino-licences-december-media-2022-03-03/
10/3/22 Macau’s six licensed casino operators will be required to pay a “special premium” of between MOP$50 million and MOP$80 million (US$6.2 million and US$9.9 million) to extend their concessions for another six months, according to a report by TDM Radio. https://www.asgam.com/index.php/2022/03/10/macau-concessionaires-to-pay-mop50-million-to-mop80-million-for-6-month-license-extension-report/
Macau casino operator Sands China Ltd says it will pay MOP47 million (about US$6 million) as a condition for its licence to be extended for a further six months, to December 31, 2022. The company will also have to provide a bank guarantee to ensure it can meet its labour liabilities in case it is not able to secure a new concession after December-end.
https://www.ggrasia.com/sands-china-to-pay-us6mln-for-macau-licence-extension/
24jan22
A Assembleia Legislativa de Macau aprovou hoje na generalidade a nova lei da exploração de jogos de fortuna ou azar em casino, a cerca de seis meses de terminarem as licenças dos operadores da capital mundial do jogo. Caso tal não aconteça, o Governo tem o poder de requerer para si estes imóveis.
Apesar da esmagadora votação positiva, (30 votos a favor e um contra) o debate foi marcado por várias dúvidas que os deputados têm em relação à alteração da lei para esta indústria, que é praticamente a única existente no território.
Em especial, vários deputados pediram mais esclarecimentos sobre a regularização dos chamados `casinos-satélites` que estão sob a alçada das concessionárias, no qual as autoridades vão dar três anos, a quem for adjudicada uma nova concessão, para os "casinos estarem localizados em bens imóveis pertencentes às concessionárias". https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/economia/aprovada-na-generalidade-nova-lei-dos-casinos-em-macau_n1379127
Vários deputados manifestaram preocupações sobre a sobrevivência desses casinos e o emprego dos funcionários em questão. Leong Sun Iok questionou o futuro dos casinos-satélite existentes e os seus trabalhadores, alertando que as autoridades devem preparar possíveis conflitos laborais surgidos com este assunto. José Pereira Coutinho, por sua vez, apontou que há muitos residentes a trabalhar nos casinos-satélite e nas salas VIP, frisando que o Governo tem de ser cuidadoso para evitar um resultado em que ficam “todos pobres” com o impacto da revisão da lei.
Lei Wai Nong esclareceu que não há um conceito oficial e jurídico sobre casinos-satélite, mas, em geral, “a única diferença com outros casinos é que a localização não é na propriedade das empresas concessionárias”.
“Em primeiro lugar, este mecanismo previsto não visa sufocar nem cortar o funcionamento dos casinos. Propomos um período transitório de três anos para que tratem das devidas formalidades. O direito de exploração de jogos é de propriedade pública do Governo da RAEM, e os terrenos são património do Governo, por isso, têm de devolver esse património após o término do contrato de licença de jogo”, afirmou.
Relativamente à questão de emprego, o secretário adiantou que as actuais concessionárias têm de assumir essas responsabilidades, sendo que “os trabalhadores dos respectivos casinos pertencem à concessionária, não só os trabalhadores, mas também os croupiers e os fiscais pertencem às concessionárias. Por isso, as concessionárias têm de resolver a situação por forma a assegurar o emprego desses trabalhadores”.
O governante garantiu ainda que está atento à situação dos promotores de jogo, indicando que as autoridades realizaram um total de 13 sessões de encontro de emprego, tendo sido recebidos pedidos de apoio de 2.481 pessoas, entre os quais 1.874 foram atendidos com assistência de transferência de trabalho.
Por outro lado, a proposta de lei pretende reforçar a verificação e fiscalização da idoneidade das concessionárias e dos participantes na exploração de actividades de jogo, sugerindo aumentar o montante do capital social das concessionárias dos actuais 200 milhões para 5.000 milhões de patacas; aumentar os actuais 10% para 15% em relação à percentagem do capital social das concessionárias detida pelo administrador-delegado, bem como limitar a percentagem das acções em circulação cotadas em bolsa de valores da concessionária ou das sociedades da qual é sócio dominante nos 30% das acções das mesmas.
Questionado pela deputada Angela Leong, ligada à operadora de jogo SJM, acerca da intenção dessas estipulações, o secretário apontou que as medidas têm a finalidade de assegurar a solidez da capacidade financeiras das empresas. “A receita bruta do jogo em 2002 foi só superior a 16 mil milhões de patacas, e houve 10 mil funcionários no sector. Mas a receita bruta de jogo em 2019 atingiu mais de 290 mil milhões de patacas, e 80 mil pessoas trabalharam para esta indústria. Este aumento está alinhado com o desenvolvimento do volume industrial”, justificou Lei Wai Nong. Quanto ao limite máximo de 30% nas acções em circulação cotadas em bolsa de valores, o responsável enfatizou que não é para impedir o financiamento legal nas empresas em questão, mas para garantir a estabilidade dos restantes 70% dos accionistas.
O diploma menciona também que as operadoras de jogo devem assumir responsabilidade social, cuja estipulação foi formulada depois de “ouvir as opiniões da sociedade e ter em conta a economia e a situação real de Macau”. O secretário admitiu que é um requisito abstracto e geral, e será, entretanto, detalhado no concurso público ou contrato de concessão. “O Governo vai especificar a orientação e os princípios da responsabilidade social no documento do concurso público, e os concorrentes irão propor os seus planos, e seleccionamos o melhor para próximas negociações com eles para ajustar os requisitos”, explicou. https://pontofinal-macau.com/2022/01/25/revisao-do-regime-e-fiscalizacao-as-operadoras-melhoram-desenvolvimento-do-jogo-diz-lei-wai-nong/
After more than two hours of debate, members of Macau’s Legislative Assembly approved on Monday the first reading of a gaming bill that will shape how the industry looks for years ahead, with 30 voting in favour and one voting against the government-backed bill. https://www.ggrasia.com/macau-legislators-nod-first-reading-of-gaming-bill/
Thirty legislators voted in favour of the bill, however Ron Lam U Tou, voting against, queried the future status of satellite casinos, which operate on the licence of concessionaires. There are currently 18 in Macao, largely run by SJM.
Lam said during the plenary session he was disappointed that the government had not provided enough information about the current conditions of the gaming sector, such as the number of satellite casinos that are currently operating, and failed to “openly address issues over which members of the public have concerns”.
Therefore, Lam said, members of the public would not be able to fully understand the content of the bill and participate in its discussions because the committee review of the bill will be held behind closed doors.
Under the new regulations, all casinos must be situated in real estate owned by the concessionaires, which would disrupt the present satellite system. https://macaonews.org/gaming/legislators-approve-gaming-law-amendment-bill-first-draft/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=25+January+Daily+Read+%F0%9F%97%9E%EF%B8%8F&utm_campaign=20220125_Daily+Newsletter
jan22
Macau’s Legislative Assembly (pictured) is scheduled to hold today (Monday, January 24) a first-reading debate and vote on a government-backed bill to amend the city’s gaming law.
The bill will after the first-reading vote be sent to a sub-committee. It will consider it further and possibly make recommendations for revisions, before a second and final reading and vote at a further plenary session of the local assembly.
The whole process might not be completed by the time the six current casino concessions expire on June 26 this year, said the city’s Secretary for Administration and Justice, André Cheong Weng Chon, in comments to the media on January 14, at the time a summary of the bill was released. https://www.ggrasia.com/first-reading-vote-today-on-macau-gaming-bill/
https://agbrief.com/news/macau/24/01/2022/macau-gaming-law-passes-1st-reading-but-concerns-over-satellites-employment/
jan22
The Legislative Assembly is scheduled to hold on January 24 a first-reading debate and vote on the gaming law amendment bill.
The much expected bill was published yesterday (Tuesday) following a press conference held by the Executive Council on Friday.The draft bill sets a maximum of six gaming concessions which can operate for up to ten years, with a 3-year extension possible under exceptional circumstances. The amendment proposal also includes a number of new regulations for both casino operators and gaming promoters.
Once the bill is approved at first reading, it will be sent to one of the legislature’s standing committees for detailed article-by-article review before being sent back to the Legislative Assembly plenary for second reading approval. https://www.macaubusiness.com/first-reading-vote-on-gaming-bill-slated-for-jan-24/
The government is racing against time to have the amended legislation in place in time to hold a public tender for the six gaming concessions ahead of the July 26th expiry of the current permits. It has said it would be amenable to a short extension should it run out of time for the necessary procedures. However, after lengthy delays in preparing its draft, it now appears to be pushing ahead fast. https://agbrief.com/news/macau/19/01/2022/macau-gaming-law-first-reading-set-for-jan-24th/?utm_source=Asia+Gaming+Brief&utm_campaign=e367d1b747-&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_51950b5d21-e367d1b747-69255637&ct=t()&goal=0_51950b5d21-e367d1b747-69255637
19/1
Macau casino shares gave back some of their gains on Tuesday after the government published the city’s new gaming laws, which tighten supervision and capital requirements.
“The details today appear to be more stringent than we had believed,” said Ben Lee, managing partner at IGamiX Management & Consulting. “The positives of no government control on capital distribution and no government representation are being outweighed by other factors that have now become clearer.”
Alidad Tash, managing director of 2NT8, also said the actual bill was far less benign than Friday’s explanatory note suggested. https://agbrief.com/news/macau/19/01/2022/macau-stocks-slip-on-concern-gaming-laws-may-have-a-sting-in-the-tail/?utm_source=Asia%20Gaming%20Brief&utm_campaign=5fb5973e76-&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_51950b5d21-5fb5973e76-69255637&ct=t%28%29&goal=0_51950b5d21-5fb5973e76-69255637
Jan 18 (Reuters) - Macau's Legislative Assembly published the draft of a highly anticipated gaming law bill on Tuesday that gave details on the Chinese territory's stated goal of tightening its grip on casino firms' activities and reining in so-called junket operators. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/macau-publishes-draft-gaming-law-bill-ahead-license-rebidding-2022-01-18/
23/12 - summary report of the public consultation results
Macau today released the summary report of the public consultation results with respect to potential changes to the gaming law (the public consultation period ran from Sept 15 to Oct 29.). The consultation results are largely as expected from our perspective and confirm much of what we have been saying since mid-September. To be clear, the document is largely a summary of the consultation opinions and not a final position by the government – the key details will become clear when the government moves to amend the gaming law (potentially in January in our view) and initiate a tender process for new concessions afterwards (in the Spring). We still believe the government is wholly set on finalizing the new concessions prior the June expirations. We do not view anything in the report that raises issues. BERSTEIN
- After going over the public consultation report, Morgan Stanley says it expects the status quo with six licenses in Macau for a duration of 10 to 20 years and thinks dividend oversight is likely. Government oversight on day to day operations for casinos is expected to be manageable. https://seekingalpha.com/news/3783010-macau-casino-stocks-rally-after-key-report-indicates-six-licenses-are-likely
- That’s after a report from the Gaming Inspection, and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) indicates the upcoming license renewal process in the world’s largest gaming hub will result in the six current concessionaires keeping their permits. https://www.casino.org/news/macau-dicj-gaming-proposals-could-be-positive-for-us-operators/
- A maioria das opiniões expressas na consulta pública sobre a revisão da lei do jogo defendeu um total de seis concessões, sem subconcessões, com um contrato inferior a 20 anos, indicou hoje o relatório final. https://www.sapo.pt/noticias/economia/consulta-publica-em-macau-quer-fim-das_61c48ba16bdd612e1c668fb0
- A majority of opinions collected during the public consultation on the proposed amendment to the SAR’s gaming law opposes the introduction of a vetting mechanism for the distribution of dividends among shareholders of casino operators. In the final report on the public consultation released today (Thursday), the Government assures that it will consider the worries expressed and the suggestions put forth on this matter during the 45-day consultation period, which lasted between September 15 and October 29.
“Most of the opinions collected during the consultation period disagree with the respective proposal, as they understand that establishing prior authorization from the Government constitutes a limitation that will interfere with the free market and may ward off the interest of concessionaires/sub-concessionaires in investing”, the public consultation report states. https://www.macaubusiness.com/govt-to-consider-worries-over-distribution-of-gaming-operators-dividends/
- The fact the Macau government issued on Thursday, well ahead of a six-month timeline, a summary report of a recent public consultation on proposed changes to the city’s gaming regulatory framework, suggests it is feasible to open bidding on a new public tender before the six current gaming licences expire in June 2022, says a Friday note from JP Morgan Securities (Asia Pacific) Ltd. The report on the consultation – a process concluded in late October – was “well ahead” of the six-month deadline that city’s government had to produce a report following a public consultation period, said JP Morgan. This suggested the government’s “strong desire to conduct licence retendering before the expiry” on June 26 next year, of the current gaming concessions and sub-concessions, added analysts DS Kim, Amanda Cheng, and Livy Lyu. https://www.ggrasia.com/tender-on-macau-gaming-possible-before-june-2022-analysts/
DIVIDENDOS:
This is the answer everybody has been waiting on – if it is to be believed. It clarifies that the policy intention is “not designed to prevent reasonable profit distributions from normal business practices.” They just want the concessionaires to be solvent, to have the cash on hand to do what the government wants them to do. So, if you believe this, and you believe that Macau gaming concessionaires have historically had “sufficient financial resources to fulfill their obligations stipulated in the law and under the concession contract,” then you must believe that the proposal to require government authorization for dividends will not amount to any practical change for the Macau operators. This is the first time the government has expressed this clarification and should go a long way to calming the market – if the market is astute enough to read between the lines and receive the message. Our next step on the road to clarity is to wait until the draft amendment is made public, so that we can see the precise language drafted to give effect to the policy intention. And if my suspicion is correct, we might be seeing that as early as next month. https://www.asgam.com/index.php/2021/12/26/macau-gaming-law-report-part-2-government-authorization-of-dividends/
26/11
Jogo Nova lei pronta “o mais rápido possível”
O secretário para a Economia e Finanças Lei Wai Nong recusou avançar uma data para a entrada em vigor da nova lei do jogo, que esteve recentemente em consulta pública. Segundo o responsável, tudo será feito para o diploma entrar em vigor “o mais rápido possível”. “Até finais de Outubro, tivemos 45 dias de consulta pública. Temos mais de 400 opiniões dos mais diversos quadrantes sociais e estamos a compilar essas opiniões para entregar e divulgar o relatório final o mais rápido possível. Depois iremos começar a produção jurídica, entregar ao Conselho Executivo e dar início ao processo legislativo que será entregue à Assembleia legislativa para apreciação e aprovação. Espero que, a breve trecho, possamos acabar o trabalho todo”. O secretário acrescentou ainda que a lei original não previu a “actual envergadura” do sector do jogo e que o novo diploma irá responder às suas “necessidades futuras” de desenvolvimento. Hoje Macau
16nov21
GAMING Macau’s Chief Executive, Ho Iat Seng (pictured), gave non-committal answers to local media on Tuesday when quizzed about the possible refreshment of the city’s six gaming concessions, and the timetable to complete the review of the city’s gaming law. “We are now compiling the opinions collected during the public consultation period” regarding the amendment of the gaming law, said Mr Ho. “We need then to start the legislative process by submitting the bill to the Legislative Assembly,” he added. https://www.ggrasia.com/macau-ce-non-committal-on-gaming-concessions-future/ Macau’s Chief Executive, Ho Iat Seng, says the government will try to complete the re-tendering of gaming concessions by June 2022 but has left the door open to extend the current concession terms if required. His comments were made during a press conference late Tuesday following his 2022 Policy Address in which he outlined the government’s key initiatives and areas of focus for the year ahead. “If the legislative process (of gaming law amendment) cannot meet the due date, we could extend the current gaming concessions since we have the mechanism to allow us to do so,” Ho said. “Please do not worry, we will try to make [the deadline]. The aim of amending the gaming law is for the healthy development of the gaming industry in Macau. We will not make things difficult for gaming operators.” https://www.asgam.com/index.php/2021/11/17/macau-chief-executive-says-extension-of-current-gaming-concession-terms-an-option/
1nov21
Em comunicado, a Direção de Inspeção e Coordenação de Jogos (DICJ) de Macau informou que, no período de consulta, que terminou em 29 de outubro, com a duração de 45 dias, "foram realizadas uma sessão de consulta para setores e oito sessões de consulta pública, com um total de 359 participações", tendo usado da palavra "73 pessoas individuais e representantes de associações". https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/mundo/1863621/macau-consulta-publica-para-rever-lei-do-jogo-teve-menos-de-400-pessoas
22 out21
The first face-to-face consultation session opening for the general public about the revision to the city’s gaming law was wrapped up in less than 40 minutes today (Friday), as representatives from the government repeatedly encouraged participants to voice their opinions. In the meeting that was supposed to last for two hours and a half, a total of five persons shared their insights, welcoming the changes proposed by the authorities and asking for more social responsibilities from gaming operators. Slightly more than half of the 80 seats were occupied in the afternoon consultation session today, with the presence of representatives from at least three of the city’s six gaming operators, according to the on-site observations by MNA. But none of the gaming representatives shared their opinions in the meeting. https://www.macaubusiness.com/first-public-session-on-macau-gaming-law-revision-ends-in-merely-half-an-hour/
13/10/21
After pandemic prevention measures led to two public consultation sessions being cancelled, a third one scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday) has been cancelled due to Typhoon Kompasu. Initially scheduled for October 13, on the 5th floor of the World Trade Center, Lotus Room, the session will now be rescheduled to another date and time ‘as soon as possible’, the Gaming Inspection and Co-ordination Bureau (DICJ) added. The 45-day public consultation on the new gaming law revision was launched on September 15 and is scheduled to last until October 29. Only the first of four on-site public consultation sessions was held so far, a session reserved for gaming industry representatives on September 20. https://www.macaubusiness.com/third-gaming-law-public-consultation-session-cancelled-due-to-typhoon/
28/9/21
Macau’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) has postponed the first of four public consultation sessions on proposed amendments to the city’s gaming law due to the new COVID-19 “state of immediate prevention” announced over the weekend. The session was due to be held this Wednesday 29 September from 10:00 to 12:30 but the DICJ issued a notice late Monday morning stating it had been cancelled in order to cooperate with the current COVID-19 measures in Macau. It was to be the only public consultation session to be conducted in Portuguese as well as Chinese, despite Portguese being one of the two official languages of Macau, along with Chinese. https://www.asgam.com/index.php/2021/09/27/dicj-cancels-first-public-consultation-on-macau-gaming-law-due-to-covid-19-state-of-immediate-prevention/ Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong has indicated that authorities will not extend the planned 45-day public consultation for the future gaming law due to the recent pandemic disruption in the city. The 45-day public consultation on the new gaming law revision was launched on September 15 and is scheduled to last until October 29. https://www.macaubusiness.com/recent-cases-to-not-impact-gaming-law-public-consultation-timeline/ Macau’s casino regulator has cancelled another face-to-face public consultation session, regarding the city’s draft of an amendment to Macau gaming law, that was scheduled to take place on Saturday (October 9), citing public safety concerns after the latest Covid-19 infections. The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau had already called off another such meeting, that had been due for September 29, but the city’s government has said it will not extend the 45-day public consultation period, which began on September 15 and is due to run until October 29. The bureau cited “development of Covid-19” in the city as the reason for cancelling those two public consultation sessions. https://www.ggrasia.com/covid-sees-2-public-sessions-on-macau-gaming-law-cancelled/
14/9/21
A public consultation process regarding the revision of the city’s gaming law will be launched on Wednesday (September 15), says the Macau regulator, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, a body also known as DICJ.
The public consultation period will run until October 29, said the gaming regulator in a Tuesday press briefing (pictured).
Lei Wai Nong (pictured, centre) Macau’s Secretary for Economy and Finance, reiterated during the media briefing, a public policy aspiration contained in Macau’s latest Five-Year Development Plan – namely the “healthy and sustainable development” of the gambling industry through improvements to the regulatory system of casinos. He also mentioned a public-policy aim to increase the “competitiveness” of the city’s casino industry
Mr Lei declined to comment when asked, whether the Macau government would seek to extend the current gaming concessions. He also declined to comment on the timetable for completing revision of the city’s gaming law. https://www.ggrasia.com/public-consultation-re-gaming-law-review-from-sept-15/
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