Macau casino revenue down 21% year-on-year in January

Revenue came to MOP6.34bn (£588.9m/€706.m/$790.3m) for the month, down 21% compared to January 2021 and 20.3% from December 2021.

January saw a number of developments in Macau. A gaming overhaul bill that will continue to allow six casino operators, with ten-year concessions, passed its first reading in the special administrative region’s Legislative Assembly. This followed a consultation, responses to which were published in December.

At the end of the month, Macau’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) approved licences for 46 junket operators for 2022. A number of other businesses were asked to submit further information for approval.

Also at the end of the month, casino operator Macau Legend Development’s CEO Chan Weng Lin resigned following his arrest for involvement in an criminal syndicate and money laundering.

Chan, who was also executive director and co-chairman, was arrested as part of a criminal investigation into the syndicate. Police detailed that this arrest, along with that of another unnamed man, were linked to the arrests of 11 people in November 2021- one of which was SunCity chairman Alvin Chau.

Chau also resigned following his arrest. Macau authorities later revealed that he has been suspected of commanding a triad.

The last day of the month was also Chinese New Year’s Eve, with some of the revenue that occurred over the New Year’s period captured in the January results.