As VIP market rebounds, Macau keeps tight reins on junkets

Macau authorities plan to keep closer tabs on junket operators and take other steps to make the local casino industry more efficient and responsible.

On Tuesday, Macau Chief Executive Fernando Chui gave his annual policy address, laying out the government’s priorities for the special administrative region in 2018. Among these priorities are plans to “review and strengthen the gaming rules,” as well as “regulate junket operations, promote responsible gaming and boost the Macau casino industry’s competitiveness.”

Macau is currently riding high on a 15-month streak of year-on-year gaming revenue increases, and October’s tally was the highest the market has recorded in three years. But the government clearly doesn’t want the gaming industry slipping into the complacency that led Beijing to launch the corruption crackdown that resulted in a 27-month streak of gaming revenue declines.

The government’s plans for the junket sector stem from the ongoing audits being performed on the 126 VIP gaming promoters currently authorized by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ).