Macau will maintain its cap of 50 licenced gaming promoters for at least the next 18 months, according to the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ). The Special Administrative Region (SAR) has kept the same limit established last year, according to , reaffirmed by Secretary for Economy and Finance Tai Kin Ip. This measure is a continuation of the city’s cautious and tightly regulated approach to high-roller activity.
Only 29 active junkets
However, despite the 50 available licences, just 29 junket operators are currently licenced. It marks a mere 58 percent of the legal limit. This figure reflects an increase of four junkets compared to data available in May. The limit of 50 licences is expected to remain unchanged until the end of 2026. By then, analysts believe the number of active junkets may fall even further, barring major shifts in policy or market dynamics.
The decline of junkets
Back in 2014, a total of 235 junket operators were hosted by Macau, accounting for around 60 percent of total 바카라 revenues. The gaming revenue from Macau’s 바카라s reached their peak in 2014, exceeding $45 billion. However, Macau’s junket sector has been on a long-term downhill path, with the number of licenced junkets falling to as low as 18 in early 2024.
In 2023, junket cap mechanism was first introduced following the implementation of new gaming law that came into effect in 2022. Since then, the cap of 50 licenced gaming promoters has remained in place. Macau government authorities have also preserved the individual limits on junket partnership for all of Macau’s six 바카라 operators for the year of 2026. Set at the discretion of the Macau authorities, these caps vary from operator to operator.
Currently, Sands China and SJM Holdings are allowed to work with 12 junkets each. Meanwhile, MGM China and Melco Resorts are authorised to work with eight junkets. Galaxy Entertainment Group and Wynn Macau, on the other hand, have a cap of working with five junket partners.
Macau’s shifting gaming industry
The regulatory landscape of Macau’s gaming industry has undergone a significant transformation. As of 1 August 2024, the Legal Regime of Credit Concession for Games of Chance in Casinos has come into effect. This new law centralises the authority to issue gambling credit, granting exclusive rights to 바카라 concessionaires. As a result, junket operators, who traditionally played a key role in extending credit to high-rollers, are no longer permitted to perform this function.
Additionally, a separate regulation further redefining the role of junkets took effect on 1 January 2023. The law makes prohibits junket operators from sharing in 바카라 revenues. The law keeps the junket operators limited to earning a fixed commission of 1.25 percent on rolling turnover, significantly altering their revenue model and influence within the industry.
In a separate development, Macau launched a six-month responsible gambling promotion campaign. It is spearheaded by the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS), with President Wilson Hon reporting a decrease in gambling participation and a significant boost in public awareness about gambling risks.
Hon reiterated the government’s long-term commitment to encouraging responsible gambling practices. These include financial literacy programmes in schools and providing certification and training for social workers and gaming employers. Additionally, he mentioned new responsible gambling kiosks have been installed across various entertainment venues, including 바카라s and malls, 24×7 hotline and online counselling availability, and the self-exclusion programmes.
