• 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

Uptick in agent interest re Macau junket licensing: sources

Nov 01, 2017 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  


Uptick in agent interest re Macau junket licensing: sources

Macau has seen a resurgence in the number of so-called collaborators in the VIP gambling segment, as business has improved this year, with some of them interested in getting licensed by the government as VIP gaming promoters, several veterans in the field have told GGRAsia.

In the local context, “collaborators” can be agents or sub-agents – typically from mainland China – that bring in high-value players to the casinos, but are not themselves currently licensed as VIP promoters i.e., the people authorised by the city’s government to arrange player credit and collection on player gambling losses. In Macau these licensed entities are commonly known as “junkets”.

Macau junket investor U Io Hung, the chairman of a Macau VIP club branded “CCUE” that operates at Altira Macau, told GGRAsia he had seen more VIP gaming collaborators working in the city so far this year. Some of them were people that had been active in the Macau market previously, but had exited during the market downturn that reached a bottom in 2015 in terms of year-on-year decrease in casino gross gaming revenue (GGR).

“There are more junket agents seeking to be licensed as a promoter firm at the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau,” said Mr U, referring to the local regulator, a body also known by its Portuguese-language acronym, DICJ.

In the third quarter of 2017, casino gross gaming revenue (GGR) in Macau’s VIP baccarat segment expanded by 35 percent year-on-year, according to government data.

The VIP segment’s share of all casino GGR in the third quarter was also on the rise judged year-on-year. VIP baccarat GGR in the July to September period was 57.7 percent of all casino revenue, versus nearly 52.1 percent of GGR in the third quarter 2016.

Kwok Chi Chung, president of the Association of Gaming and Entertainment Promoters, agreed with Mr U’s observation regarding collaborators.

“Lately there have been indeed more gaming collaborators that have interest in getting licensed as a VIP gaming promoter firm… quite a number of them are from mainland China, have been running their business in Macau and made some established [client] networks over a period of years and would just like to register a firm of their own name,” Mr Kwok stated.

In an emailed reply to us, the gaming regulator noted that currently, the number of licensed junket promoters is “very close” to the number that was published at the beginning of this year.

The total number of licensed gaming promoters in Macau was 126 as of January this year, compared to 141 in January 2016, according to a list of licensed operators published every January by the bureau. In January 2015, Macau had a total of 183 licensed junkets.

Gaming promoter licences are issued or renewed by the local regulator on an annual basis. The city’s VIP gaming promoters also have to submit every year a list of the collaborators they plan to work with in the following year.

The gaming bureau has the discretion to restrict the number of collaborators a licensed gaming promoter can work with, or the regulator can choose not to approve certain names on a collaborators’ list, local regulation says.

Despite having seen an uptick in interest in junket licensing, Mr Kwok said he was not certain whether that would lead to a significant increase in the number of registered junket promoters.

“The DICJ has toughened up their screening of the workings of the junket promoters, and they are also working on revising the law monitoring junkets,” Mr Kwok remarked. “I don’t think getting licensed as a junket firm is that easy any more.”


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Macau ops not telling staff, players to mask but many are
    Macau ops not telling staff, players to...

    Feb 27, 2023  

  • Foreigner gaming zone already at Venetian Macao: sources
    Foreigner gaming zone already at...

    Feb 21, 2023  

More news
  • Main-building work at Naga 3 begins mid-2023: NagaCorp
    Main-building work at Naga 3 begins...

    Mar 24, 2023  

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

    Mar 24, 2023  


Latest News

Main-building work at Naga 3 begins mid-2023: NagaCorp

Main-building work at Naga 3 begins mid-2023: NagaCorp

Mar 24, 2023  

Piling work for Naga 3, an addition to the NagaWorld gaming complex in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh, was at “96 percent completion”, said the promoter’s 2022 annual report, issued on...
Read More
Macau diversification into non-gaming to remain slow: Fitch

Macau diversification into non-gaming to remain slow: Fitch

Mar 24, 2023  

Osaka to up ‘gambling addiction’ centres before IR opens

Osaka to up ‘gambling addiction’ centres before IR

Mar 24, 2023  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day


April 8, 2028

Completion deadline for 'Marina Bay Sands 2.0', as authorised by Singapore’s authorities



Most Popular

  • Sands China woos Singaporeans as Air Macau opens routeSands China woos Singaporeans as Air Macau opens route March 23, 2023
  • March 18 Macau arrivals nearly 100k, best since pandemicMarch 18 Macau arrivals nearly 100k, best since pandemic March 23, 2023
  • Contractor named, work starts for Wynn UAE schemeContractor named, work starts for Wynn UAE scheme March 23, 2023
  • LVS gets 1-year extension for Marina Bay Sands 2.0 startLVS gets 1-year extension for Marina Bay Sands 2.0 start March 24, 2023
  • Universal Ent affiliate to develop land next to Okada ManilaUniversal Ent affiliate to develop land next to Okada Manila March 24, 2023
Copyright 2014-2023 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us