Macau’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) has confirmed the successful completion of the first ever large-scale, joint contingency drill to be held in one of the city’s casino, stating that it had achieved the government’s goals “of testing such measures and testing the communication between public departments and gaming operators in the event of emergencies.”
The drill, codenamed “Wolf Hunting,” took place in the early hours of Tuesday morning at Galaxy Macau in Cotai as part of the government’s efforts to strengthen coordination between public departments and the city’s gaming operators. Specifically, it aimed to optimize response measures in case of unexpected incidents in casinos and to guarantee the safety of residents, tourists and their respective property.
According to the DICJ, the drill involved a series of events relating to an armed robbery simulation in public areas of a casino property. In the simulation, a group of four people robbed a “passer-by” and harmed two other people before they were intercepted by casino security officers. The “robbers” later held a “hostage” at one of the VIP rooms of the casino and claimed to be in possession of an explosive device.
The contingency drill lasted around two hours and approximately 350 people joined the exercise including personnel from the DICJ, the Unitary Police Service, the Public Security Police Force, the Judiciary Police, the Fire Service Bureau and other public departments.
In a Tuesday announcement, the DICJ said it also aimed to review and enhance the communication mechanism in the event of unexpected emergencies. This communication mechanism was established between the DICJ and Macau’s six gaming concessionaires and sub-concessionaires following the deadly shootings at Resorts World Manila and Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas last year.