• 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
  • Features
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

Macau junkets limiting cashing out but reasons offered vary

Sep 23, 2020 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  


Macau junkets limiting cashing out but reasons offered vary

A shortage of liquid cash available to Macau VIP gambling rooms is likely to have been a factor in junkets capping cash-out efforts by patrons, several industry sources have separately told GGRAsia.

One junket said in a formal statement to GGRAsia that it was adopting “new policies” on redemption and “account transfers”, but that such policies had been instituted by casino operators.

The flow of inbound tourists and gamblers to Macau had reached a record low in terms of recent data, and might be a factor in terms of liquidity for the city’s junket rooms, said Kwok Chi Chung, president of a junket trade body, the Macau Association of Gaming and Entertainment Promoters.

“There has been no fresh flow of Hong Kong dollars in the casinos,” remarked Mr Kwok to GGRAsia, alluding to the currency mostly used to denominate Macau casino bets.

As a result, “of course the junkets would not allow the patrons to redeem their chips and change them into cash so easily now,” added Mr Kwok. His view was echoed by the other junket sources, who asked not to be identified.

That coincided with reports of greater scrutiny by the authorities in mainland China of money moved outside the mainland for gambling and other purposes.

China’s reinforced scrutiny on cross-border gambling activities, and its monitoring effort on financial transactions, had also fuelled concerns among some high-roller patrons, and hence discouraged them from making gaming trips to Macau, said the two junket sources. That further clouded the recovery prospect for Macau’s VIP gaming sector, they added.

The phenomena of limits on cashing out from junkets also arises against the background of the Covid-19 pandemic, that has seen an 81.6-percent year-on-year decline in Macau casino gross gaming revenue (GGR) up to August 31.

In pre-pandemic trading times, patrons of Macau VIP junket rooms had been able freely to redeem their deposited cash chips or convert them into cash in the various rooms, GGRAsia’s sources said. Although such high-value players are asked to gamble by “rolling” non-negotiable chips, their deposits are typically kept as cash chips to make the accounting process easier, the people said.

Suncity Group, which has previously been described by investment analysts as Macau’s biggest junket brand by rolling chip volume, confirmed to GGRAsia in a statement that the firm had, since August, adopted “new policies” on how its patrons could redeem their cash chips, and conduct “account transfers”.

It said the step was “in compliance with the new policies of different casinos, as well as to protect its clients and their privacy”.

The junket brand added: “VIP Clubs of Suncity Group require all chip withdrawal and account transfers to be operated by the account holder, or official authorised person(s) who signed [an] agreement with [the] account holder and [that was] witnessed in person.”

Suncity added: “Since the limits policies are set by different casinos… Suncity is not in a position to speak on behalf of them.”

Several junket industry sources noted to GGRAsia that many Macau gaming operators and their partnering junkets had – starting from this summer – implemented new limitations on how patrons could redeem their gaming chips deposited at the junket rooms, with such constraints varying from venue to venue.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • CNY 2021 unlikely to boost Macau casinos, say observers
    CNY 2021 unlikely to boost Macau...

    Jan 15, 2021  

  • G2E Asia 2021 delayed to August from May, amid pandemic
    G2E Asia 2021 delayed to August from...

    Jan 14, 2021  

More news
  • Mass market play record 65pct Macau GGR in 4Q: govt
    Mass market play record 65pct Macau GGR...

    Jan 15, 2021  

  • Malaysia Covid outlook negative to Genting Bhd: Moody’s
    Malaysia Covid outlook negative to...

    Jan 15, 2021  


Latest News

CNY 2021 unlikely to boost Macau casinos, say observers

CNY 2021 unlikely to boost Macau casinos, say observers

Jan 15, 2021  

Recent advisory notices issued by a number of local authorities in mainland China, calling on residents not to travel during the February Chinese New Year (CNY) break, further clouds the prospects...
Read More
Mass market play record 65pct Macau GGR in 4Q: govt

Mass market play record 65pct Macau GGR in 4Q: govt

Jan 15, 2021  

Malaysia Covid outlook negative to Genting Bhd: Moody’s

Malaysia Covid outlook negative to Genting Bhd: Moody’s

Jan 15, 2021  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Partners

Pick of the Day

“We expect Las Vegas Sands to not have any material change in strategy. The focus remains developing Macau and Singapore”

Vitaly Umansky, Kelsey Zhu and Tianjiao Yu

Analysts at brokerage Sanford C. Bernstein



Most Popular

  • Sheldon Adelson, self-declared casino industry iconoclastSheldon Adelson, self-declared casino industry iconoclast January 13, 2021
  • Quality fake chips sold online found at Macau casinoQuality fake chips sold online found at Macau casino January 13, 2021
  • Casino entrepreneur Sheldon Adelson dies aged 87Casino entrepreneur Sheldon Adelson dies aged 87 January 12, 2021
  • Police find US$11m of missed Landing cash, suspects soughtPolice find US$11m of missed Landing cash, suspects sought January 14, 2021
  • Still Asia focus for LVS post chairman death: BernsteinStill Asia focus for LVS post chairman death: Bernstein January 14, 2021
Copyright 2014-2020 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us