• 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

UnionPay ATM changes might hit casino rev: Macau govt

May 12, 2017 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  


UnionPay ATM changes might hit casino rev: Macau govt

Macau’s Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lionel Leong Vai Tac (pictured), has admitted that the city’s casino earnings might be negatively affected by the planned new customer verification technology at local automated teller machines (ATMs).

Holders of Chinese mainland-issued China UnionPay Co Ltd cards that wish to use them for cash withdrawal at Macau ATMs will soon have to present their identity card and pass a facial recognition scan.

Mr Leong told reporters on Thursday that he noted the new technology might have some influence on visitor behaviour, particularly regarding their spending in casinos. He expected it might take some time for visitors to get used to the new measure.

Mr Leong noted in his comments to reporters that the new technology was to prevent people from misusing such cash withdrawal facilities. Mr Leong confirmed that the new ATM machines with face recognition and identity card-reading technology would be gradually introduced into the market.

The primary phase covered ATMs in or near casinos, said Mr Leong.

Ambrose So Shu Fai, chief executive of Macau casino operator SJM Holdings Ltd, told media on Monday that he anticipated “minimal impact” to the city’s casino earnings from the announced UnionPay ATM changes.

Casino gross gaming revenue (GGR) in Macau rose by 16.3 percent year-on-year in April, to MOP20.16 billion (US$2.52 billion), according to data from the city’s regulator, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau. It meant the Macau market’s GGR tally for the first four months of 2017 stood at MOP83.64 billion, a year-on-year expansion of 13.8 percent.

Commenting on the new ATM measure on Monday, brokerage JP Morgan Securities (Asia Pacific) Ltd said: “We do not expect the actual impact on [gaming] demand to be very meaningful, as there still are many other ‘channels’ – at least for now – that can help players/junkets to get cash in Macau, via pawnshops for example. That said, we can’t rule out any potential impact on ‘player psychology’, as some players/junkets may feel reluctant to use ATM cards given increased identity checks, so any progress in this area warrants close monitoring in our view.”

According to the results of a proprietary survey of 1,900 mainland China residents by brokerage Sanford C. Bernstein Ltd, published in January, many casino customers – particularly at the premium end – rely on cash withdrawals from bank accounts held in Macau or Hong Kong, and transactions via UnionPay bank cards, to fund their gambling.

When gambling respondents were asked about their preparations regarding cash to spend at casinos, the methods most frequently mentioned were bringing in cash and using UnionPay-enabled ATMs. Respectively, 49 percent and 46 percent of self-identified gambling trippers to Macau highlighted these methods. More than 20 percent of such trippers claimed to have access to either Hong Kong or Macau bank accounts, while pawnshops were utilised by nearly 20 percent of such respondents.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Gait analysis emerging security tool: G2E Asia panel
    Gait analysis emerging security tool:...

    Sep 17, 2020  

  • Melco poised for face check gantries at casino entry points
    Melco poised for face check gantries at...

    Dec 05, 2019  

More news
  • Kangwon licence extension to come with tax rejig: JP Morgan
    Kangwon licence extension to come with...

    Feb 24, 2021  

  • Galaxy Macau Phase 3 MICE to launch in stages says exec
    Galaxy Macau Phase 3 MICE to launch in...

    Feb 24, 2021  


Latest News

Kangwon licence extension to come with tax rejig: JP Morgan

Kangwon licence extension to come with tax rejig: JP Morgan

Feb 24, 2021  

Kangwon Land Inc could pay the equivalent of up to six percentage points extra relative to its pre-tax profit, under a proposal that would see the operator of South Korea’s only casino for locals...
Read More
Galaxy Macau Phase 3 MICE to launch in stages says exec

Galaxy Macau Phase 3 MICE to launch in stages says exec

Feb 24, 2021  

Phase 2 Resorts World Sentosa only starts 2022: analyst

Phase 2 Resorts World Sentosa only starts 2022: analyst

Feb 24, 2021  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Partners

Pick of the Day


US$390.2 million

Net loss posted by Macau casino operator SJM Holdings for full-year 2020



Most Popular

  • Macau casino GGR soared in final days of CNY: brokeragesMacau casino GGR soared in final days of CNY: brokerages February 23, 2021
  • Macau removes last mainland cities from its quarantine listMacau removes last mainland cities from its quarantine list February 23, 2021
  • Pansy Ho sells off more stock in MGM Resorts for US$36mlnPansy Ho sells off more stock in MGM Resorts for US$36mln February 23, 2021
  • GEG in US$1.6bln construction deal on Galaxy Macau Phase 4GEG in US$1.6bln construction deal on Galaxy Macau Phase 4 February 22, 2021
  • Caesars out of Korea, ex-partner R&F asks 3yr delayCaesars out of Korea, ex-partner R&F asks 3yr delay February 19, 2021
Copyright 2014-2020 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us