MACAU RESIDENCY REQUIRED FOR FUTURE CASINO COLLABORATORS

March 18, 2022 Macau Crime & Legal Industry Updates

As proposed in a current draft law and promoted by the government, it is very likely in the future that all casino intermediaries or junkets will be held by Macau residents.

The Second Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly continued to meet with government officials yesterday to discuss the amendment bill on the Gaming Law.

Chan Chak Mo, president of the committee, held a post-meeting press briefing, opening with a discussion on the role of collaborators. Collaborators are to assist with the concessionaires’ casino operations, such as providing customer care services. Committee members have raised multiple questions in this respect. For example, collaborators have no legal relationship with concessionaires and can be understood as intermediaries.

Collaborators should compile a list of staff and provide such lists to the concessionaires with whom they collaborate. Concessionaires will then submit the list to the Gaming Supervision and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) for approval.

While processing the application, the DICJ will look into the qualifications of the proposed staff, such as their criminal record and whether they have Macau residency.

The committee president also discussed the concept of joint liability or responsibility, which is proposed within Clause F, Article 48 in the bill. Under this, concessionaires will be held responsible for acts related to the gambling business conducted by their collaborators in their casinos.