Macau’s integrated resorts now boast a combined 12 foreigner-only gaming areas, Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng said Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge before he departed for Europe, Ho responded to questions about the foreigner-only areas, which were recommended by the government in December as a means of calculating gross gaming revenues generated from international players. The government has also promised tax breaks of up to 5% on international GGR as a means of encouraging operators to increase their efforts in this area.
“The six gaming operators have established a total of 12 foreigner-only areas,” Ho said.
“The operators are also sending private planes to bring clients to Macau, and the government has provided good airport services in this regard.”
He added that while Macau is still lacking when it comes to the provision of international air routes, this is not yet a significant issue for Macau as many other countries have yet to resume international flights at pre-pandemic levels.
Among the integrated resorts where foreigner-only gaming zones are known to exist are The Londoner Macao, The Venetian Macao, MGM Macau, MGM Cotai, City of Dreams, Studio City, Grand Lisboa Palace and Galaxy Macau.
Meanwhile, Ho said the government has not changed its previous GGR forecast of MOP$130 billion for Macau in 2023.
“It is very likely that this year’s gross gaming revenue will reach MOP$130 billion (US$16.1 billion), but this revenue will still be in deficit,” he said.
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