• 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

Macau govt tightens casino exec blue cards: report

May 27, 2016 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  


Macau govt tightens casino exec blue cards: report

The Macau government is tightening the renewal process on working visas for non-resident casino executives, reportedly in a bid to have a larger number of local workers promoted to managerial roles.

The city’s Human Resources Office – in charge of handling requests to import labour – confirmed the policy to local Portuguese-language newspaper Jornal Tribuna de Macau.

“In assessing requests by the six casino operators – and bearing in mind that these have been in activity [in Macau] for several years – we consider these firms already present enough conditions to promote local workers [into higher positions],” the newspaper quoted the bureau as saying.

The Human Resources Office added that if “there are local workers that can fulfil the necessary conditions to perform managerial roles”, it would then “deny requests for working visa renewals” for expatriate casino executives.

The office added it would assess such questions in an “impartial and fair” way and would take into account government guidelines, Macau’s economic development, the situation of labour demand and supply, and information related to the companies applying to import such labour.

The goal of the strategy was to “free up more [managerial] positions for local workers”, said the newspaper, quoting the Human Resources Office.

Brokerage Sanford C. Bernstein Ltd had mentioned in a note on Monday the issue of casino operators facing difficulties in renewing working visas  – known in Macau as ‘blue cards’ – for non-resident casino executives. The brokerage said its commentary was the result of its discussions with some operators.

“Blue card renewal applications for management level (i.e., managers, senior managers, directors, executive directors, etc.) are becoming more difficult,” analysts Vitaly Umansky, Simon Zhang and Clifford Kurz wrote at the time.

They added: “Several senior managers at various operators have noted this difficulty as the Macau government is pushing for more locals to be promoted into managerial roles. The worry with respect to this issue is less about cost escalations (which we see as having been moderate), but with respect to quality and experience of managers.”

According to Sanford Bernstein’s Monday note, Macau locals account for “well over 80 percent of manager-and-above positions, 77 percent of all workers at the casino properties, and 96 percent of casino-specific employees.”

The Macau government does not authorise migrant workers to take up casino dealer positions.

Imported workers are officially regarded in Macau as only complementary to local labour. During the 2008 international financial crisis – which hit several of the city’s casino operators – the government at the time pushed Macau employers to lay off imported workers before releasing any local workers.

Several casino labour groups in Macau have held protests demanding the government introduce policies ensuring casino operators offer more promotion opportunities to local workers.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Macau September GGR down 13pct on August: govt
    Macau September GGR down 13pct...

    Oct 01, 2023  

  • Bloomberry aims to raise up to US$99mln via share sale
    Bloomberry aims to raise up to US$99mln...

    Sep 29, 2023  

More news
  • Sands China to revitalise firecracker factory, old streets
    Sands China to revitalise firecracker...

    Sep 29, 2023  

  • S.Korea Daegu Casino fined US$776k for AML breaches 
    S.Korea Daegu Casino fined US$776k...

    Sep 29, 2023  


Latest News

Macau September GGR down 13pct on August: govt

Macau September GGR down 13pct on August: govt

Oct 01, 2023  

Macau’s September casino gross gaming revenue (GGR) fell by 13.2 percent month-on-month, to MOP14.94 billion (US$1.85 billion), according to a Sunday announcement from the local regulator, the...
Read More
Sands China to revitalise firecracker factory, old streets

Sands China to revitalise firecracker factory, old streets

Sep 29, 2023  

Bloomberry aims to raise up to US$99mln via share sale

Bloomberry aims to raise up to US$99mln via share sale

Sep 29, 2023  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day

”The Philippines has been the primary growth driver, but really the broader Asian gaming industry is something that’s really important to us”

Matt Wilson

Chief executive of casino equipment provider Light & Wonder



Most Popular

  • Macau September GGR down 13pct on August: govtMacau September GGR down 13pct on August: govt October 1, 2023
  • Sands China to revitalise firecracker factory, old streetsSands China to revitalise firecracker factory, old streets September 29, 2023
  • S.Korea Daegu Casino fined US$776k for AML breaches S.Korea Daegu Casino fined US$776k for AML breaches  September 29, 2023
  • Light & Wonder to expand facilities in the Philippines: CEOLight & Wonder to expand facilities in the Philippines:… September 29, 2023
  • Any Macau clamp on money changing may hurt GGR: punditsAny Macau clamp on money changing may hurt GGR: pundits September 25, 2023
Copyright 2014-2023 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us