Three gaming concession holders in Macau will shut down 11 satellite casinos by the end of this year, when a three-year transition period for amended legislation is set to expire, with local authorities to monitor the impact on the venues’ about 6,000 affected employees.
Macau authorities announced on Monday that the government had been officially notified by SJM Resorts, Melco Resorts (Macau) and Galaxy Casino that the satellite casinos would cease operations by December 31.
The venues set to close are the Grandview, Legend Palace, Fortuna, Landmark, Ponte 16, Le Royal Arc, Emperor Palace, Kam Pek Paradise and Casino Casa Real under SJM Resorts, as well as Grand Dragon of Melco Resorts (Macau) and Galaxy Casino’s Waldo.
The government said it respected the commercial decisions of the three gaming concessionaires and urged them to treat the affected employees properly.
Cheong Weng-chon, Macau’s administration and justice minister, said: “The government requires the three gaming concessionaires to properly settle the employees of the satellite casinos and will closely monitor the development of the relevant situation.”
Secretary for Economy and Finance Tai Kin-ip said that staff at the 11 satellite casinos comprised 5,600 local employees and about 400 imported workers.