Inside Asian Gaming

IAG MAY 2022年5月 亞博匯 16 MACAU’S CHIEF EXECUTIVE , Ho Iat Seng, has described amendments to the city’s gaming law as vital in improving regulatory standards and earning the support of mainland China. Ho recently attended the Legislative Assembly (AL) to answer questions raised by legislators, most of which revolved around the amended gaming law currently being discussed by the AL. The Chief Executive admitted that Macau’s gaming industry was at its lowest point now, but insisted this was the perfect time to fix the industry’s deficiencies. “The [previous] gaming law has not been thoroughly enforced in the past,” he said. “I hoped that the current period would be an opportunity to rectify the industry’s standards and ensure the healthy development [of the industry]. Then we could earn support from the mainland. Otherwise, Macau will find itself on a narrower and narrower road. “GGR reached MOP$60 billion (US$7.4 billion) when we had 6 million visitors, however our GGR has never reached MOP$400 billion (US$49.6 billion) when we have 40 million visitors.” Ho said Macau’s gaming industry was previously impacted by unlawful conduct while emphasizing the latest amendments to the gaming law did not change any fundamental principles. “Unlawful conduct such as side-betting caused significant tax evasion and brought serious negative impact to mainland China,” he said. Ho also pointed out that Macau’s satellite casinos have never existed under any legislative base and therefore could not claim to be losing anything by being included under new regulations. On labor issues, he added that the government would require gaming concessionaries to reduce the number of non-resident workers gradually in order to ensure the employment of local employees. 澳門特區行政長官賀一誠 稱，澳門修訂博彩法對於提高監管標準 和贏得內地的支持至關重要。 賀一誠最近列席立法會回答議員提問，部分問題圍繞立法會 目前正在討論的博彩法修訂草案。 行政長官承認，博彩業現正處於最低點，但堅持認為現在是 修復行業缺陷的最佳時機。 賀一誠稱︰「博彩法在過去沒有得到徹底執行。目前將是 一個糾正行業標準的機會以確保健康發展，才可以取得大陸的支 持。否則，澳門將發現自己的路越走越窄。」 「當我們有600萬遊客時，賭收達到600億澳門元（74億美 元），然而當我們有4000萬遊客時，我們的賭收卻未達到4000 億澳門元（496億美元）。」 賀一誠認為，澳門的博彩業以前受到非法行為的影響，同時 他強調最新的博彩法修正案並沒有改變任何基本原則。 他說：「賭枱之下等的非法行為造成大量逃稅，給內地帶來 嚴重的負面影響。」 他還指出，澳門的衛星賭場從未有任何法律基礎，因此不能 指新修訂法案導致衛星場損失什麼。關於外僱問題，他補充說， 政府將要求博企逐步減少非本地居民的僱員數量，以確保本地僱 員就業。 MACAU CHIEF EXECUTIVE SAYS STRICTER REGULATION OF GAMING INDUSTRY VITAL TO EARN CHINA’S SUPPORT 澳門特區行政長官稱 嚴厲修訂博彩法對贏 得內地支持尤為重要