Macau finalises gaming bill ahead of casino license extension

June 16, 2022 Macau Crime & Legal Industry Updates

Macau’s legislature released a final draft of a highly anticipated gaming bill on Wednesday raising the tax rate and giving officials far greater oversight into operations in the world’s biggest gambling hub.

The 55-page document, released in Portuguese and Chinese on the legislature’s website, comes as the government is due to formally sign a six-month licence extension for casino operators on June 23, local broadcaster TDM reported.

The moves are expected ahead of casino license expirations due this month. The extension, to Dec. 31, allows more time for a highly anticipated rebidding process in the Chinese special administrative region, the only place in China where gambling in casinos is legal.

Macau’s casino bill, which marks the biggest reform in two decades for the former Portuguese colony, will likely be approved by lawmakers this month.