• About Us
  • The Team
  • Advertise with Us

The latest news on the gaming industry in Asia

() () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () ()
  • Home
  • Macau
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Rest of Asia
  • World
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • iGaming
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

Casino chance on Macau SLOT sport monopoly end: experts

Jun 10, 2021 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  


Casino chance on Macau SLOT sport monopoly end: experts

A Wednesday announcement by the Macau government that it was renewing, but on a non-exclusive basis, the rights of the city’s sports-betting concessionaire, Macau SLOT Co Ltd (an outlet pictured), could be a “signal that more operators might be allowed into the sports betting market in Macau in the future,” says academic Wang Changbin, director of the Centre for Gaming and Tourism Studies at Macao Polytechnic Institute.

Macau SLOT – the name stands for Sociedade de Lotarias e Apostas Mútuas de Macau Lda – offers instant lotteries and sports betting in Macau, with the exception of betting on horse racing. The new concession runs from June 6, 2021, to June 5, 2024.

Macau’s casino operators might – on the basis of non-exclusivity for Macau SLOT – “also be allowed to bring in some kind of sports betting in their mass market” gaming areas, “just as their correspondents in Las Vegas do,” Professor Wang told GGRAsia.

But the academic added that in order to do so, “Macau’s Gaming Law needs to be changed… sports betting will not be allowed in the casinos until the law is revised.”

In March, the city’s government said it would launch, “in the second half of this year,” a public consultation process regarding the revision of the city’s gaming law, which would precede a new public tender for Macau gaming rights. The rights of the six current concessionaires are due to expire in June 2022.

But Macau-based advocate José Alvares, of CA Lawyers, and an expert in gaming-related legislation for Macau, noted to GGRAsia that the concession of Macau SLOT had been made non-exclusive from 2006 to 2009, with no movement in the direction of market competition in sports betting.

The fact that the government decided on non-exclusivity this time, “shows the general line that they want to take on general affairs – public interest above all else,” in terms at least of the principal of non-monopoly, suggested Mr Alvares.

The lawyer suggested that, regarding the possibility of sports betting being allowed in Macau’s casinos – subject to a revision of the Gaming Law – the city’s government was likely to “tread carefully” as it would be another way for the casino sector to “gain a further foothold in the economy”.

Macau has pledged to pursue economic diversification in areas including specialised financial services, as a counterweight to dependence on tourism and casino gambling.

Nonetheless, said Mr Alvares, casinos had the “necessary structure,” including in terms of regulatory compliance, “to undertake such additional activity” regarding sports betting.

Macau SLOT’s concession renewal on a non-exclusive basis would “increase existing speculation that the revised gaming law will allow gaming concessionaires to offer sports betting services,” suggested Bruno Ascenção, of the BBA law firm, and who is another Macau-based lawyer with specialist knowledge of local gaming legislation.

Mr Ascenção suggested that from a public-policy perspective, “it would have been preferable to start by disclosing that sports betting would be made available to other companies, followed by amending the applicable laws,” and only then finalising “the amendment of the relevant concession contract”.

(Updated, June 11, 12pm)


  • tweet
Related articles
  • 40pct fewer Macau satellite casinos by Jan 1: govt
    40pct fewer Macau satellite casinos by...

    Dec 16, 2022  

  • ‘Investor-abandoned’ Macau has comeback path: JPM
    ‘Investor-abandoned’ Macau has...

    Nov 29, 2022  

More news
  • Macau CNY mass GGR maybe 60pct plus of CNY 2019: JPM
    Macau CNY mass GGR maybe 60pct plus of...

    Jan 31, 2023  

  • Pagcor 2022 income up 66pct y-o-y, tops US$1bln
    Pagcor 2022 income up 66pct y-o-y, tops...

    Jan 31, 2023  


Latest News

Macau CNY mass GGR maybe 60pct plus of CNY 2019: JPM

Macau CNY mass GGR maybe 60pct plus of CNY 2019: JPM

Jan 31, 2023  

Macau mass-market casino gross gaming revenue (GGR) for the recent Chinese New Year (CNY) holidays could have recovered to at least 60 percent of that for the 2019 break, when the festivities were in...
Read More
Pagcor 2022 income up 66pct y-o-y, tops US$1bln

Pagcor 2022 income up 66pct y-o-y, tops US$1bln

Jan 31, 2023  

Junket boss Levo Chan heard okaying illicit bets: court

Junket boss Levo Chan heard okaying illicit bets: court

Jan 30, 2023  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day


US$1.08 billion

Total income for 2022 reported by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp



Most Popular

  • Available Macau casino tables busy at tail of CNY holsAvailable Macau casino tables busy at tail of CNY hols January 27, 2023
  • Almost half million visitors to Macau for 7 days of CNY holsAlmost half million visitors to Macau for 7 days of CNY hols January 30, 2023
  • Macau visitor momentum kept for post CNY weekendMacau visitor momentum kept for post CNY weekend January 30, 2023
  • Junket boss Levo Chan heard okaying illicit bets: courtJunket boss Levo Chan heard okaying illicit bets: court January 30, 2023
Copyright 2014-2023 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us