Bee Macau, a joint venture between Belgium-based Cartamundi Group and Hong Kong-listed Asia Pioneer Entertainment (APE), is positioning itself to support both Macau’s gaming operators and overseas casino markets after launching full-scale production of casino-grade playing cards earlier this month, according to Jason Pearce, Managing Director of Cartamundi Asia Pacific.
Speaking to AGB, Pearce said the HK$500 million ($64.1 million) facility was designed with “meaningful and scalable capacity” to support both local and international demand as customer needs evolve.
The factory officially entered full-scale production earlier this month, becoming Macau’s first local manufacturer of casino-grade playing cards. According to the company, the facility had already completed test runs and early exports to regional Asian gaming operators before beginning full-scale operations.
The Bee brand dates back to 1892 and was acquired by Cartamundi in 2019.
Pearce said the rapid timeline between the signing of the agreement in March and the production launch in May was made possible by years of preparation.
“This project has been carefully prepared well in advance,” he told AGB. “In response to customer demand, we began work on this project nearly five years ago, focusing on factory design, construction planning, and the validation and verification of new technologies.”
He added that the preparation involved cooperation between Cartamundi’s global expert teams and external certification bodies, allowing the company to accelerate deployment once the project formally commenced.
The facility uses automation, artificial intelligence technology and robotic systems operated by a local workforce. Pearce said local production aligns with growing demand among casino operators for more secure and reliable regional supply chains.
“Casino operators increasingly seek regional production for critical reasons such as improved business continuity, supply chain security, reliability and speed to market,” he said.
Pearce noted that Macau’s casinos had historically relied entirely on imported playing cards before Bee Macau entered the market.
He also explained that casino-grade playing cards require significantly higher standards than conventional consumer cards, particularly in durability, precision and security.
“Casino-grade playing card solutions are designed and manufactured to meet significantly higher quality, security, efficiency and consistency standards over standard playing cards,” Pearce said. “Key features include enhanced durability and precise finishing, as well as, in some instances, advanced security features.”
Some products may also incorporate confidential customized security features tailored to specific regulatory environments, he added.
While the company did not disclose market share targets or confirm supply agreements with Macau’s six gaming concessionaires, Pearce said Bee Macau’s business model is focused on long-term relationships with casino operators in Macau and overseas markets.
“We can confirm that we are actively working on a number of contracts across multiple markets, reflecting strong interest in a regionally produced, casino-grade playing card solution,” he said.
Looking ahead, Pearce said Bee Macau plans to expand in line with customer demand and maintain a long-term commitment to Macau and the wider Asian region.
“The facility has been designed with flexibility in mind, allowing us to adapt over time in terms of capacity, product offerings, and market reach,” he said.
