Delegates from the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Singapore (GRA) had a meeting with their counterparts at Macau’s casino regulator, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), on Tuesday (pictured), with the two sides exchanging opinions on several gambling regulatory issues, according to a social media posting by the DICJ.
The Singapore regulator separately confirmed to GGRAsia that the GRA’s chief executive, Teo Chun Ching, was a member of the visiting delegation.
The DICJ post had noted: “This is the first visit of GRA to Macau since Covid-19.” It added that both bodies had undergone “restructuring during the past four years”. The message added: “Both parties place great importance on the build-up of good cooperative ties.”
The Macau casino regulator also said that the bureau and GRA had, during the Tuesday occasion, discussed various topics, including the “renewed” structure and functions of their respective organisations, and the gambling regulatory challenges encountered post-Covid 19.
Singapore’s gambling regulator issued a statement to GGRAsia in response to our enquiry about the Macau visit.
It said: “We can confirm that GRA Chief Executive Mr Teo Chun Ching and GRA officers visited Macau from 10 to 12 July 2023. During the trip, the GRA delegation met up with DICJ and discussed recent developments around the region. GRA also visited Macau casinos to appreciate the latest developments.”
The GRA was inaugurated in August last year, following regulatory changes that made the body the consolidating authority for all forms of gambling activity in Singapore.
The Macau gaming regulator also saw some restructuring starting in 2021, with an expansion in the number of inspectors, and the addition of staff at either departmental- or divisional-chief level.
(Updated July 17, 9.27am)
