Macau moves to protect satellite casino workers ahead of closures
As Macau’s satellite casinos near closures by the end of the year, thousands of workers are facing uncertain times, causing the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) to step in with measures to help smooth the transition for those affected. The DSAL said it has reached out to 3,878 employees of these casinos, which marks nearly 70 per cent of those affected.
Scope of affected employees
Currently, roughly 5,600 locals are employed by these satellite casinos. Of which, Galaxy Entertainment Group, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, and SJM Holdings employ around 4,800 workers. The remaining 800 were employed by independent satellite operators directly. These gaming operators have announced the closures of several satellite casinos by the end of 2025. The restructuring follows revisions to Macau’s gaming laws enacted in 2022, under which all satellite casinos must either be owned directly by the licenced operator or operate under non-profit-sharing agreements. The deadline for compliance is 31 December 2025.
All three concessionaries, Melco, Galaxy and SJM have reiterated commitments to protecting local employment throughout the transition. They have assured that employees currently working at these venues will be reassigned to other properties operated by the companies within Macau. In a recent development, Sands China has announced job interviews for the affected. The company is offering job opportunities as part of its Sands Rewards programme and will host two interview sessions at Sands Macao on 17 and 18 June.
Reassurances by govt and concessionaires
The looming significant shift has been accompanied by strong assurances from the government and concessionaires regarding the employment of local staff. At a press conference held on 9 June, Macau officials confirmed they had urged the three gaming concessionaires to guarantee the continued employment of all local staff currently working at the 11 satellite casinos and the three Mocha Clubs slated for closure.
As of 16 June, the bureau has dispatched 62 inspectors to affected cites across 10 satellite casinos and three slot machine parlours. The inspectors offered legal advice, job referrals and information about training courses. The DSAL has overseen 38 briefing sessions run by gaming operators, educating workers on their rights.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai said that the impact of satellite casino closures on the city’s gross domestic product (GDP) would not be significant, as reported by local media. This is because Macau’s concessionaires will shoulder their responsibility, according to the chief executive. Sam Hou Fai said the annual gaming revenue from satellite casinos, which was about MOP$10 billion, when weighed against Macau’s robust GDP, the number becomes relatively modest at just 2.5 percent.
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