As the pillar economy of Macao, the gaming industry has played an active role in promoting Macao’s economy, employment, infrastructure and people’s livelihood and welfare. But everything has "two sides", and its "dominance of one industry" has also brought risks to Macau society. This problem has become particularly prominent under the impact of the new crown epidemic - the business of casinos and hotels has plummeted. The "junket boy" changed his career and became a takeaway boy.
Since June 18, 2022, the cumulative number of positive cases in Macau has increased to 852.
Due to the resurgence of the epidemic, it was reported on the evening of June 30 that the local government in Macau planned to introduce new measures for casinos, requiring gaming companies to reduce gaming table operations and implement limited services to reduce employee mobility. Most casinos were advised to only Open gaming tables with less than 10 tables, some with as low as 5 tables.
Some gambling practitioners in Macau said that the local epidemic hit in June, and the gambling revenue was expected to drop. It is difficult to improve in July and August. It is expected that gambling revenue will continue to bottom out in July and August, and the full year will be lowered. Gambling revenue is forecast to reach 42 billion patacas.
A former Junket Operator turned to a delivery boy
In the past two years, due to the COVID-19 epidemic and strict restrictions on immigration, many gamblers have stopped visiting Macau. In 2020, Macau's GDP shrank by 56.3% in real terms, inbound tourists fell by 85% year-on-year, and the gaming industry fell by nearly 80%.
The business of the casino has plummeted, and the first to be affected are the staff inside.
According to the 2020 Macao SAR Statistical Yearbook, the employed population in Macao that year was approximately 395,100, of which 91,300 were engaged in "entertainment, gaming and other service industries", accounting for 23.1% of the employed population.
The business of the casino was sluggish, and many employees began to leave their jobs and change careers. Some "junket operators" changed their careers and became takeout boys.
A Junket operator (casino junket agent) said that many of them have left the casino and started a new life, and some young Junket operators have switched careers and become takeout boys.
A Macau local said: "In other industries, the income is not high, more than 10,000 yuan a month, but if you are more diligent in delivering food, you can earn 20,000 to 30,000 yuan."
In 2021, the Weibo trending search #澳门外围投注网址average monthly salary exceeds 25,000# attracted public attention. Although the 25,000 patacas mentioned in the hot search topic is in Macau patacas, it is about 20,000 yuan when converted into RMB. The "junket boy" who once roamed the "VIP lounge" to win over high-rollers and spend huge sums of money, and enjoyed unlimited fame, is now forced to make a living and can only change his career to become a delivery boy.
Amidst the epidemic, hotels are also doomed.
Affected by the epidemic, Macau has an impact on the whole body. Those high-end casino hotels that cost thousands of yuan a night can now be stayed at for only two to three hundred yuan. Many small and medium-sized casinos have closed down and are even preparing to be resold. In order to attract more tourists, the Macau Tourism Bureau has repeatedly issued 50% off coupons for hotels and air tickets. Some four- and five-star hotels that once cost hundreds or thousands of dollars are also discounted, and some are even as low as tens of dollars a night, which is comparable to "Cabbage price".
In late May, a piece of information about the transfer of a casino in Macau caused an uproar in Macau. Macau trading platform MacauBoss released information saying that a hotel is intended to be sold for 2 billion yuan, and its business includes casinos, restaurants and spas.
▲ Picture comes from MacauBoss Facebook screenshot
The Macau casino, which was once eagerly vying for the top spot from all kinds of capital and gangsters, is now on the market for "only" 2 billion yuan.
Macau’s gaming industry is ushering in drastic changes
Macau has long occupied the world’s No. 1 gaming market, among which the “VIP room” served by Junket Operator has always been a “big revenue earner”. In 2011, Macau's gaming revenue was 269.1 billion patacas, four times that of Las Vegas, with "VIP rooms" contributing more than 70%.
However, the gaming industry in Macau is now undergoing drastic changes. The days of wandering in the gray area and making huge profits will be gone forever.
In November 2021, Zhou Zhuohua, the founder of Macau Suncity Group, known as "Ximihua", was arrested in Macau in connection with a case of using the Internet for illegal gambling and money laundering.
▲The case of Zhou Zhuohua, the founder of Suncity Group, involved illegal betting amounts of more than HK$800 billion.
On June 21 this year, the Macau authorities announced that the case of Zhou Zhuohua and the other 20 defendants has been scheduled to start on September 2. The charges accuse Zhou Zhuohua of being involved in more than 200 counts of founding and directing a criminal group, laundering money, and illegal gambling. The charges involved illegal betting of more than HK$800 billion, and there were more than 90 prosecution witnesses.
On the same day, the Macau Legislative Council voted to pass the revised "Legal System for Casino Lucky Gambling Operations" (hereinafter referred to as the new "Gaming Law"), which will officially take effect on the 23rd. This is the first time in 21 years that Macau has revised its Gambling Law.
Sheng Li, professor of political economy and public policy at the University of Macau, said, "The implementation of the new 'Gaming Law' means that the era of the junket system as the core and satellite casinos all over Macau is over."
Casino Frontline Employee Group" Li Yubo, chairman of the Gambling Power Association, believes that the new law has strict regulations on "satellite casinos" and will further hit the business of the casino junket industry. In addition, the new crown epidemic continues to affect gambling revenue, and frontline employees are worried that there will be a wave of layoffs after the implementation of the new gambling license. .
From this point of view, it is imperative to rectify the gaming industry in Macau. But how to do it and how to reduce the impact and losses are still issues that everyone needs to think about seriously. Some people can successfully change careers, but what about others who cannot? (Source: Macau Monthly Macau News Agency Macau Jianghu)
