• 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

Casinos not to instantly shut if Covid-19 found in Macau: govt

Aug 13, 2020 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  


Casinos not to instantly shut if Covid-19 found in Macau: govt

Macau casinos will not necessarily be closed immediately if new cases of Covid-19 infection are detected in the city, said on Wednesday an official from the city’s Health Bureau. Macau has not recorded any local cases of infection for more than four months, according to the government.

If any fresh Covid-19 cases were detected, the authorities would implement community restrictions, but an eventual suspension of casino operations would depend on an “assessment” by the authorities of the potential risk for public health of keeping gaming venues open, said Health Bureau official Leong Iek Hou (pictured, right), during a Wednesday regular press briefing on Macau government’s response measures to Covid-19.

“If there is a new case of community transmission [of Covid-19] in certain areas [of Macau], we will define such areas as ‘medium’ or ‘high-risk’ areas,” said the official. “But that doesn’t mean that if a local case occurs – one which is not related with casinos – we will immediately close” the city’s gaming venues, she added.

Ms Leong said additionally that the local authorities had no plans to ease a set of special guidelines for Macau’s casino industry, adding that potential adjustments would only be considered after the pandemic eases, including availability of a vaccine against the novel coronavirus.

A set of special guidelines for the city’s casinos – including permissible density of seating for customers at gaming tables, and minimum space between tables in use – came into force on February 20 after a 15-day market-wide closure to prevent local spread of Covid-19. Taken together, the guidelines have amounted to a scenario where each venue’s operational gaming capacity has been more than halved.

The Health Bureau official stated that the Macau government already had in place contingency plans for the eventuality of fresh Covid-19 cases being detected in the city, particularly following the resumption of tourist visas to Macau from mainland China.

Ms Leong said such plans would take into consideration several factors, including the potential risk and impact on the community of a Covid-19 outbreak, the number of people infected and the place where it eventually occurred.

Authorities in mainland China’s Guangdong province are set to resume on August 26 the issuance of tourist visas to Macau, including visas for package tour groups and for independent travel under the country’s Individual Visit Scheme (IVS). The rest of the provinces in mainland China are to resume issuing tourist visas to Macau from September 23 onwards, just ahead of the so-called ‘October Golden Week’.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • GEN Singapore posts US$29mln 1Q profit, up sequentially
    GEN Singapore posts US$29mln 1Q...

    May 12, 2022  

  • Casino firm Paradise Co slips to negative EBITDA in 1Q
    Casino firm Paradise Co slips to...

    May 12, 2022  

More news
  • New Lim cruise biz only months after GEN HK in liquidation
    New Lim cruise biz only months after...

    May 18, 2022  

  • Kangwon drove 2021 S.Korea casino revenue growth: govt
    Kangwon drove 2021 S.Korea casino...

    May 18, 2022  


Latest News

New Lim cruise biz only months after GEN HK in liquidation

New Lim cruise biz only months after GEN HK in liquidation

May 18, 2022  

A casino cruise brand reportedly controlled by Malaysian entrepreneur Lim Kok Thay is to launch services from Singapore fewer than five months after the Lim family-founded Dream Cruises brand of the...
Read More
Kangwon drove 2021 S.Korea casino revenue growth: govt

Kangwon drove 2021 S.Korea casino revenue growth: govt

May 18, 2022  

Over 7.9mln Bloomberry shares vested to some senior execs

Over 7.9mln Bloomberry shares vested to some senior execs

May 18, 2022  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day


US$10 billion

Target set by gaming equipment and online content provider Light & Wonder for total capital creation from 2022 to 2025



Most Popular

  • Wynn CEO, Macau execs in base pay cut in return for sharesWynn CEO, Macau execs in base pay cut in return for shares May 17, 2022
  • Macau repeat visitors denied visa by China says BernsteinMacau repeat visitors denied visa by China says Bernstein May 16, 2022
  • U.S. says Steve Wynn ‘foreign agent’, lobbied for ChinaU.S. says Steve Wynn ‘foreign agent’, lobbied for China May 18, 2022
  • Alleged bribe offer to ex-Wynn manager probed by HK, MacauAlleged bribe offer to ex-Wynn manager probed by HK, Macau May 17, 2022
Copyright 2014-2022 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us