Macau's government said on Saturday November 26, 2022 that its six incumbent casino operators would be given new licenses to operate in the world's biggest gambling hub from January, with Malaysian operator Genting missing out on a spot1. Their concessions expire at the end of this year1.
The six operators are Sands China, Wynn Macau, Galaxy Entertainment, MGM China, Melco Resorts and SJM Holdings, which have operated in the Chinese special administrative region since 20021. They have invested more than $50 billion in Macau in the past 20 years1. Officials told a news briefing that the main considerations for granting licenses included ensuring local employment, developing overseas tourist markets and developing non-gaming projects1.
Genting Malaysia had been considered a credible threat for a Macau license because of its non-gaming track record and mass market appeal, fitting criteria set by Beijing, which wants Macau to diversify away from gambling and attract foreign tourists1. The company did not immediately respond to an email request for comment1. Had any incumbent lost, it would have had to return the casino area to the government for free at the end of this year, making it financially unviable to operate the remaining facilities, as gambling accounts for 80% to 90% of total revenue1.
The expiry date has been known for years. Macau's six gambling concessions were all due to expire in 2022, under a structure of three primary concessions and three sub-concessions2. The primary concessions were held by Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Wynn Resorts (Macau) and Galaxy Casino, while the sub-concessions were held by Venetian Macau, a subsidiary of Sands China, MGM Grand Paradise and Melco Resorts (Macau)2. The government had earlier said it favored reopening all concessions to fresh bidding and was conducting internal analysis2. Two options were reported as most likely: strictly applying the law and issuing only three concessions, or amending the law to allow more than three, formally issuing four to six2.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Concessions expiring | Six, at the end of 20221 |
| New licenses start | January1 |
| Incumbents since | 20021 |
| Investment in Macau | More than $50 billion over 20 years1 |
| Gambling share of revenue | 80% to 90%1 |
What it means for players
The venues that gamble in Macau are unchanged in the near term: the same six companies hold the new licenses, so the casinos, tables and rewards programs they run continue under the same corporate owners1. The government's stated criteria point to more emphasis on non-gaming projects and overseas tourist markets, which shapes what the resorts build and how they market themselves abroad1. For anyone checking whether a Macau operator is properly licensed, the license holder is the company named by the government, not a brand or a junket1. Separately, products using the Macau name such as Toto Macau and New Macau Mark Six are not part of this licensing process.
What happens next
The new licenses take effect from January1. The government has not said, in these reports, what terms or duration the new licenses carry, and no further detail on the individual awards has been reported1.
