The Chief Executive Ho Hau Wah (何厚鏵) told legislators that the decision will be formalised through legislation.

He also announced that new landplots, including reclamation landplots due to be authorised by the Central Government in the future, will no longer be conceded for casino development projects.

However, landplots that have already been conceded will not affected by the decision.

Meanwhile, the number of gaming tables and slot machines will also be controlled, and no further additions will be allowed before new measures are announced.

Slot machine parlours will also be ordered to move away from residential areas.

The Government will also legislate to control the commission provided to casino brokers, and a review will be conducted to service contracts.

Checks will be made to the qualifications of senior management personnel of casinos, with licences will be granted to them once they passed the checks, and casino operators will no longer be permitted to take part in running public utilities businesses.

Ho also emphasised that he will not allow casino operators to take part in the Government’s policy-making processes, when answering a question raised by Legislator Leong On Kei (梁安琪) which had already been answered by the Chief Executive.

The Secretary for the Economy and Finance Tam Pak Yuen (譚伯源) said in the press conference after the Chief Executive’s question time that these new measures will be in force immediately in principle, apart from the commission regime of casino brokers and licensing of casino managers.

He admitted that the speed of Macau’s gaming sector development is faster than expected, saying that if the sector developed at a speed over the course of 10 years, problems of resource shortage like Macau is having today should not have been emerged.

There are 29 casinos in operation in Macau, with about 4,000 gaming tables. In addition, about four to five casinos are being constructed in Cotai.

Source: BlogMacau.Info