The government could grant a seventh Macau gaming license after 2020 should any new operator prove their ability to elevate Macau as the World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, according to a leading gaming academic.
Professor Davis Fong, Director of the Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming and Associate Professor of the Hospitality and Gaming Management Program at the University of Macau, told Inside Asian Gaming that the likelihood of Macau’s government welcoming a “newcomer” was far higher than commonly believed and a distinct possibility.
“I think from a society perspective we will welcome everybody who can help Macau achieve the World Centre of Tourism and Leisure,” Professor Fong said in an extended interview. “But one point is very clear – it’s not just a proposal. Whether they are visible, whether they have potential background or historical records to prove to society that okay, they are not the six (concessionaires), however they can help achieve the next level.
“I think society will welcome everybody who can help Macau achieve this new position.”
The Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming was commissioned by the Macau government to conduct the so-called “Mid-term review” of the local casino industry. The Mid-term review was unveiled by the Macau government in May 2016 at a press conference attended by the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lionel Leong Vai Tac, and Paulo Martins Chan, the Director of the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ).
Macau’s six gaming license concessions will start to expire in the next three years, starting with SJM and MGM China in March 2020 followed by Galaxy, Sands China, Melco Resorts and Wynn Macau in June 2022. Professor Fong said it remains to be seen whether the government puts the concessions out to tender or extends SJM and MGM China for two years to sit in line with the other four, as has previously been mooted. However, he added that they key factor for any concessionaire, new or old, will be their ability to help fulfil the tourism goals laid out in the Mid-term review.
“The most important thing here isn’t whether we are trying to say there is a newcomer or an old player, whether they will have some changes – I don’t think these are the major issues from a society perspective,” Professor Fong said.
“What we are trying to do is make sure that Macau can achieve the World Centre of Tourism and Leisure in the next 10 to 15 years. This is very clear in the five-year plan announced last year by the Macau government so anybody, any stakeholder, any players or any concessionaire or sub-concessionaire who can help Macau achieve the World Centre of Tourism and Leisure – if they are good players in Macau society the government will welcome them to stay here.”
RelatedPosts
