Macau casino workers facing more stress, says trade union
Casino workers in Macau are experiencing increasing mental and emotional stress, according to the Macau Gaming Employees Home, a trade union representing gambling industry employees.
At a press conference reviewing its 2024 work, the union said that while most casino workers remain optimistic about the industry’s future, many are facing growing pressure due to new technologies, updated electronic equipment, an increase in guest numbers, and stricter disciplinary rules.
A study involving 1,182 local casino workers found a 12 percent rise in work fatigue compared to 2021. Psychological and physical stress among workers also increased by 24 percent. The survey highlighted that frequent night shifts contributed to physical and mental health issues, reduced social support, and limited time for leisure activities. However, job insecurity among gaming workers decreased by 7.61% compared to 2021, the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, said the union’s senior member Pak Kin Pong.
The union reported that in 2024, it provided advice or services to 36,021 people, including counselling for 229 individuals. Among them, 66.44 percent sought help for work-related issues or job-hunting difficulties, 15.38 percent for psychological and emotional problems, and 6.29 percent for gambling disorders.
Unionist Pak further said, “While most of the gaming workers expressed optimism about the industry, the union has also received feedback from a number of employees that they are under psychological and emotional pressure due to the upgrading of electronic equipment, increase in the number of gamblers, and tightening of disciplinary controls, which have resulted in varying degrees of physical and psychological burdens on them.”
To support employees, the union plans to strengthen awareness of the “principle of proactive management of work-related issues” and encourage workers to seek professional counselling. Additionally, it aims to launch a “Reference Manual on Supporting People Disturbed by Gambling” in mid-2025. The union will continue to expand counselling and crisis management services to help employees adjust and promote the industry’s healthy development.
