The Macau government has extended the licence of the Special Administrative Region’s (SAR) sole sports betting operator Macau Slot until 5 June 2026. The announcement came from Macau’s Official Gazette on 25 June (Wednesday).
Extension with a key condition
The Financial Services Bureau (DSF) has confirmed the possibility of further extensions on mutual agreement between both parties. Macau Slot has agreed to labour force reforms as a key condition of the extension. As a result, the operator has agreed to reduce non-professional foreign staff. Currently, 15 percent of Macau Slot’s workforce are foreigners. The new contract mandates a 35 percent reduction in the non-professional foreign staff quota by the end of first quarter of 2026. Additionally, Macau Slot will also be required to implement further measures aimed at reducing its overall foreign worker quota.
The new clause reinforces the government’s stance on local employment. According to the contract, Macau Slot must give priority to hiring Macau residents and must invest in on-the-job training programs to boost local skillsets. These requirements align with the Macau SAR Government’s labour policies. Coming to the operator’s financials, ss of 31 December 2024, Macau Slot’s assets stood at MOP$954 million ($118 million), which marks a 7.8 percent increase year-on-year. Profit for the year 2024 was MOP$130.88 million ($16.3 million), a 5.5 percent growth compared to the previous year.
Consultations in place
Coming to the gambling landscape, as Macau’s satellite 바카라s near closures by the end of 2025, government officials are reportedly holding consultations aimed at mitigating the economic impact of these closures. This comes amid growing concerns among hoteliers and business owners in the Outer Harbour Reclamation Area (ZAPE/NAPE).
At least nine of the 11 satellite 바카라s are set to close by the end of this year. The restructuring follows revisions to Macau’s gaming laws enacted in 2022, under which all satellite 바카라s must either be owned directly by the licenced operator or operate under non-profit-sharing agreements. The deadline for compliance is 31 December 2025. Majority of the satellite 바카라s are located in the ZAPE/NAPE districts. As a response, the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) has been conducting field to learn about their needs.
Employment concerns
Among growing concerns are the employment of thousands of workers as they face an uncertain time. In response, the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) stepped in with measures to help smooth the transition for those affected. The DSAL said it has reached out to 3,878 employees of these 바카라s, which marks nearly 70 per cent of those affected. Currently, roughly 5,600 locals are employed by these satellite 바카라s. Of which, Galaxy Entertainment Group, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, and SJM Holdings employ around 4,800 workers. The remaining 800 were employed by independent satellite operators directly.
A total of 423 employees from satellite 바카라s have already taken part in seven job-matching sessions organised by Sands China Ltd, SJM Holdings Ltd, and Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd, according to GGR Asia. These events, held after the June 9 announcement of the upcoming closures, offered positions in areas such as sales, customer service, food and beverage, facilities management, and public area maintenance.
