Inside Asian Gaming

IAG APR 2022年4月 亞博匯 38 IN FOCUS Inside Asian Gaming (IAG): It’s been an eventful few months for junkets, starting with the arrest of some senior figures within the industry. What has been the reaction of other junket operators to these events? Are they worried that something similar could happen to them? Kwok Chi Chung: I don't want to comment on any specific case. Some of their business, according to the cases, was conducted outside the Macau jurisdiction and they engaged in some illegal activities in mainland China. According to the news we read, these illegal activities are not so related to the Macau promoter business. However, because the people involved in these cases are the industry’s senior figures, it came as a big shock to the industry. Everybody knows that before, many VIP gamblers in Macau were from mainland China. If Macau promoters continue this business model, they will probably do something illegal [according to] mainland Chinese law. So Macau promoters’ reaction has been to re-evaluate [their business operations]. IAG: The junkets overseen by Alvin Chau and Levo Chan, who are both detained in Macau awaiting trial, were licensed by the DICJ for 14 years. Does this create confusion over what is permitted by law in Macau? KCC: I won't comment on how other people think. From my point of view, I emphasize again that these cases are related to business conducted outside Macau jurisdiction. The cause of these cases is the illegal business in mainland China. I think when you do business legally, you won’t feel the issue is so shocking.