Inside Asian Gaming

IAG JUL 2021年7月 亞博匯 14 MACAU SLOT’S SPORTS BETTING CONCESSION NO LONGER EXCLUSIVE 澳門彩票公司 不再享有專營經營權 MACAU’S LONG-TIME monopoly sports betting provider, Macau Slot Co Ltd, has had its concession renewed for three years but will no longer enjoy exclusivity in what amounts to a significant policy shift in the segment. According to a notice in the Official Gazette, Macau SLOT’s betting concession, which expired on 5 June 2021, has been renewed for three years until 5 June 2024. However, the exclusive license the company has held for instant lottery, football and basketball no longer applies, with the Official Gazette stating that Macau SLOT’s concession extension is now on a non-exclusive basis. The addition of a non-exclusivity clause into Macau SLOT’s concession is significant given its long history as the monopoly sports betting operator in the SAR. The company was granted Macau’s only franchise to accept betting on football in 1998, with basketball added two years later. In 2002, when the Macau SAR Government was handing out concessions to casino operators, Macau SLOT was granted Macau’s only sports betting concession – a concession it has held until now. It previously had its exclusive license extended in 2016 for five years. Macau SLOT’s new three-year concession also contains a clause stipulating that the concession can be terminated at any time by order of the Chief Executive should the company be unable to retain its workforce, specifically local workers. An option to “organize and operate other forms of lotteries or mutual betting” pending DICJ approval remains in place. Macau SLOT last year reported a profit of MOP$154.8 million (US$19.3 million) in FY2019, down 30% on 2018. 長期專營 澳門體育博彩的澳門彩票公司日前獲批給經營權延續三 年，但相關經營權以「非專營」方式批給，某種程度上意味著該領域 內的重大政策轉變。 據澳門政府《公報》，政府與澳門彩票有限公司已簽署合同，將 原先於今年6月到期的批給期限延續3年，至2024年6月5日。 然而，該公司目前獲批給的即發彩票及體育彩票，即足球博彩 及籃球博彩的組織及經營權將不再為獨家專營。《公報》表示，澳門 彩票公司的批給延期以「非專營」方式批給。 有鑒於澳門彩票公司在澳門的悠久歷史，此次在其特許經營 權中加入非排他性條款可謂意味深長。 1998年，該公司成為澳門唯一一間接受足球博彩彩票投注的 公司，兩年後再取得澳門的籃球博彩彩票專營權。2002年，當特區 政府向營運商發放賭牌時，澳門彩票公司成為澳門唯一一個體育 博彩特區專營權的持有者，直至今日。2016年，該公司的獨家專營 牌照獲延期5年。 澳門彩票公司新獲的三年特許經營權合同還包括一項新的條 款，即列明如基於承批公司未能維持向澳門特區承諾的公司員工 規模，尤其是本地員工數目規模，可透過行政長官批示解除批給。 而「承批公司經許可後，可組織及經營其他方式彩票或互相博 彩」，仍待博監局核准。 澳門彩票公司2019年錄得利潤1.548億澳門元（1,930萬美元） ，較2018 年按年減少30%。