The strategic and operational implications in light of the new gaming law will be felt much sooner, despite Macau’s economic diversification plan requiring some time to take shape, and the regulatory and industry-wide changes will gradually be compounded into substantial differences over the next decade and beyond, says a research report.

The Macau government decided to take another step forward in stamping out illegal gaming in the city, despite the spokesperson for the Executive Council denying that the move is aimed at junket cases like Suncity and Tak Chun. 

Sands China is restructuring the share capital and management of its concession-detaining subsidiary in Macau, the second company to announce such a restructuring following the government’s granting of provisional 10-year gaming concessions to the six incumbent operators.

Macau’s new gaming law is specifically designed to restrict the size of the industry, writes gaming law expert Nelson Rose in a blog entitled “Macau’s Distressing New Casino Laws.”

Newly passed amendments to Macau’s gaming law reflect “significant changes to the policy goals” for the gaming industry and align with concerns expressed by China about national security and illegal cross-border capital flows, a leading local law firm writes.

In response to the approval of the Macau operators “truly grateful” for the extension of the contracts, gaming law revisions, as they set the pathway towards a smooth transition ahead of the tender for the new concessions. All reiterate their readiness to participate in the tender process.

Following the tawdry revelations that emerged from inquiries into Australia’s Crown Resorts and later Star Entertainment, regulators finally seem to be prepared to get tough.

Macau’s operators have welcomed the passage of the city’s amended gaming law, which heralds the first major regulatory change in two decades.

Macau legislators proposed two key amendments to the city’s gaming law bill this week, but both are seen as short-term patches that do little to help solve some of the larger issues facing the industry.

Macau's draft gaming law has been amended to help satellite casinos, which will now be able to operate for longer than the original three-year transition period, but without revenue sharing.