Casino industry urged to prioritise environmental protection, social well-being: study

 jul25

The development of Macau’s gaming industry should place greater emphasis on environmental protection and social welfare, according to a new study published in the latest issue of Global Gaming & Tourism Research by Macau Polytechnic University.

The research, titled “Research on the Impact of Macau’s Gaming Industry on the Regional Economy and the Exploration of Its Sustainable Development Path”, was led by Yu Wai Hang, a lecturer at the Macau University of Science and Technology and chairman of the Macau Regional Economic Research Association.

Analysing data from 2012 to 2022, the study found a “coordinated” positive relationship between gaming revenue and Macau’s sustainable development — particularly in the years before the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the tourism-dependent economy.

To assess sustainability, the researchers led by Yu deployed an index incorporating metrics such as gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, labour force participation, foreign direct investment (FDI), air quality, recycling rates, noise complaints, higher education enrolment, hospital bed usage, and population growth.

The sharp decline in gaming revenues during the pandemic, and the resulting impact on broader sustainability indicators, underscored the urgency for a new economic model, the study noted, referring to the government’s “1+4” strategy.

The “1+4” strategy aims to reinforce the city’s core integrated tourism and leisure sector while developing four emerging industries: traditional Chinese medicine and health, modern finance, high technology, as well as exhibitions, trade, sports and culture.

In the first half of 2025, Macau’s gaming revenue totalled MOP118.77 billion (US$14.8 billion), marking a 4.4 percent year-on-year increase, though still 20 percent below the level recorded in the same period in 2019.

“In the future, Macau must continue to strengthen regulation of the gaming market and promote digital transformation within the sector,” the authors wrote. “At the same time, greater attention should be paid to environmental protection and social wellbeing to ensure the gaming industry’s orderly development.”

Guidelines and incentives

Given the high volume of tourists and the environmental footprint of casino resorts — including emissions, wastewater, solid waste and food waste — the study recommends that the government establish green operational guidelines for gaming operators, including carbon reduction targets.

Policy incentives should also be introduced to encourage the adoption of cleaner technologies and environmentally friendly practices across the industry, the report added.

On the social front, the authors urge gaming operators to invest more in training programmes for local employees, equipping them with skills beyond their current roles to enhance workforce resilience.

“Gaming operators should also engage in global cultural exchanges by hosting international festivals, art exhibitions and academic forums, in a bid to showcase Macau’s unique cultural identity and share its story with the world,” the study remarked.

https://www.macaubusiness.com/casino-industry-urged-to-prioritise-environmental-protection-social-well-being-study/