Macau junket operator Golden Group, which ran the Golden VIP club in Macau, closed all operations on 30 March 2022 and terminated its employment contracts with staff the same day, according to a notice the company issued to employees1. The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau said it had received notice from SJM Resorts that the Golden VIP rooms would close that day, and that it would follow up on the procedures related to the closure1.
The company notice said the decision was taken after careful consideration and with reluctance, and that severance payments would be settled within nine days from that date1. The report did not give the number of employees affected, the size of the severance bill, or the reasons behind the closure1.
"今日（30日）全面結業，並於同日正式解除與各僱員的勞動合同"
"收到澳娛綜合通知，黃金貴賓廳將於今日關閉"
The bureau's statement, as reported, covers only the closure notice and its intention to follow up on the shutdown procedures1. It does not set out any enforcement action, license condition or timeline beyond that1. No figure for the value of the Golden VIP rooms' business, its player base or its share of Macau VIP gaming revenue appears in the report1.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Operator | Golden Group, a Macau junket |
| Venue | Golden VIP rooms, notified by SJM Resorts |
| Closure date | 30 March 2022 |
| Employment contracts | Terminated the same day |
| Severance | To be settled within nine days of that date |
| Regulator | Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, following up on closure procedures |
What it means for players
VIP rooms in Macau are private gaming areas run by junket operators inside a casino, rather than the main floor. A closure of this kind means the room stops taking play from that date, so any arrangements a player had through that junket, including credit lines, deposit accounts or outstanding chips held with it, are affected by the wind-up of the business rather than by anything at the casino floor itself1. The report does not say what happens to player balances, deposits or unsettled credit with Golden Group, and no process for players to claim against the company has been reported1. Play on the main floors of Macau casinos is not addressed by this notice1.
What happens next
The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau said it will follow up on the procedures for the VIP room closure1. Severance for the affected employees is due to be settled within nine days of 30 March 20221. No further steps, dates or outcomes have been reported1.
For background on how these rooms work, see VIP rooms, premium mass and private gaming clubs in Asian casinos. For venues that have shut, see closed casinos in Asia, and for the wider market, casinos and integrated resorts in Asia and can I gamble in Macau?.
Sources1 sources
- 今日信報 - 財經新聞 - 澳門博彩中介黃金集團結業 - 簡訊 - 信報網站 hkej.com, m.hkej.com
