Macau extends closure of casinos until 23 July

The initial lockdown had been due to end on Monday 18 July – but despite a falling case count of just 27 on Sunday, the government decided that the city must continue the wider lockdown as well as the shutdown of its economic core: the casino sector.

The DICJ announced the news in a press release where it stated that the closure was subject to the approval of chief executive Ho Lat-Seng, in which it also explained procedures and methods for accessing some of the Bureau’s services as well Covid-safe methods of making licence applications.

While covid has become endemic throughout much of the world, China and its special administrative regions have largely continued to adhere to a “covid-zero” policy that has led to frequent lockdowns.

According to official figures, there have been over 1,500 covid cases recorded in Macau since June, with more than 19,000 in quarantine. Some residents had been quarantined in the Grand Lisboa casino earlier this month.

In January, Macau passed a new gaming bill that will include a number of major changes for the sector, such as limits on gaming tables and machines and new rules for junkets.