• 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

Covid-19 safety testing for Macau casino staff: govt

Jul 14, 2020 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  


Covid-19 safety testing for Macau casino staff: govt

The Macau government said in a Tuesday statement that the city’s casino staff would have to be tested for Covid-19, as part of new precautionary measures for anyone entering gaming venues in Macau. The new step regarding test certification would be applied in full to all casino patrons from Wednesday (July 15), said the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, a body also known as DICJ.

The gaming regulator and the city’s health authorities will jointly arrange nucleic acid testing for casino staff. It will be done in batches, and front-line workers, such as casino dealers and security staff, would be prioritised, said the statement.

Such certification for casino employees will not be required from Wednesday, officials from the city’s Health Bureau stated in a press conference on Tuesday. They added that the cost for what was termed a “one-off test” for casino workers would be supported by the Macau government.

The DICJ confirmed in an emailed reply to GGRAsia on Tuesday that the authorities would “conduct a one-time test” for the city’s casino employees. Casino staff “will not have to be tested every time they enter the casino to work,” said a spokesperson from the bureau.

Leong Iek Hou, an official of Macau’s Health Bureau, said at the press conference that the government hoped to conduct “very soon” the nucleic acid tests for front-line casino staff.

The official stated that no dates had yet been confirmed for such tests, adding that the authorities were currently in discussion with the city’s six gaming operators in order to carry out the testing in an efficient way.

The Macau government has said it has capacity to conduct 16,000 nucleic acid tests per day. Currently, it does between 4,000 to 6,000 tests a day, it added.

On Monday, the gaming regulator said that “all people who intend to enter” the city’s casinos would be required not only to have their body temperature measured and to display a health-declaration statement, but also have to present a certificate of a “valid nucleic acid test” proving freedom from Covid-19.

The DICJ said that the fresh requirements were intended to ensure the health and safety of casino employees and patrons.

The steps have been announced concurrently with relaxations of quarantine arrangements – from 6am on Wednesday – between Macau and Guangdong province, according to the statement.

On Monday it was stated that a 14-day quarantine rule that applied to the majority of people travelling from Macau to neighbouring Guangdong province in the mainland would end from Wednesday.

The Macau government’s task force on Covid-19, known as the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre, said that on Tuesday (July 14) the government had to suspend the system for people to register for a nucleic acid test, due to a huge demand from Macau locals. The service is expected to resume on Wednesday.

In Tuesday’s press conference, the Macau health authorities said they were mulling the possibility of launching one more Covid-19 testing facility,  in addition to the two existing testing stations.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Macau diversification into non-gaming to remain slow: Fitch
    Macau diversification into non-gaming...

    Mar 24, 2023  

  • Casino op SJM 2024 EBITDA to hit US$510mln: Moody’s
    Casino op SJM 2024 EBITDA to hit...

    Mar 22, 2023  

More news
  • Raffles hotel checks complete at Galaxy Phase 3: MGTO
    Raffles hotel checks complete at Galaxy...

    Mar 27, 2023  

  • Melco’s Studio City has foreigner-only bet zone: checks
    Melco’s Studio City has...

    Mar 27, 2023  


Latest News

Raffles hotel checks complete at Galaxy Phase 3: MGTO

Raffles hotel checks complete at Galaxy Phase 3: MGTO

Mar 27, 2023  

The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has completed the approval process for the ‘Raffles at Galaxy Macau’ hotel tower (pictured centre), part of Cotai’s Galaxy Macau Phase 3...
Read More
Melco’s Studio City has foreigner-only bet zone: checks

Melco’s Studio City has foreigner-only bet zone: checks

Mar 27, 2023  

Philippines SEC ties with Pagcor to fight money laundering

Philippines SEC ties with Pagcor to fight money laundering

Mar 27, 2023  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day

”Human capital constraints and skill gaps pose a key challenge for Macau to substantially reduce its high dependence on the gaming industry”

George Xu, Andrew Fennell and Jan Friederich

Analysts at Fitch Ratings



Most Popular

  • Macau diversification into non-gaming to remain slow: FitchMacau diversification into non-gaming to remain slow: Fitch March 24, 2023
  • Sands China woos Singaporeans as Air Macau opens routeSands China woos Singaporeans as Air Macau opens route March 23, 2023
  • Melco’s Studio City has foreigner-only bet zone: checksMelco’s Studio City has foreigner-only bet zone: checks March 27, 2023
  • Raffles hotel checks complete at Galaxy Phase 3: MGTORaffles hotel checks complete at Galaxy Phase 3: MGTO March 27, 2023
  • Main-building work at Naga 3 begins mid-2023: NagaCorpMain-building work at Naga 3 begins mid-2023: NagaCorp March 24, 2023
Copyright 2014-2023 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us