Your Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: Macau eliminates quarantine for all arrivals

Friday 23rd of December 2022

Good morning. Macau is marking the (hopeful) end of a rather terrible era, with authorities announcing that quarantines are being lifted for all arrivals into the city. The new move eliminates the Red health code, but still requires negative NAT and RAT testing. Meanwhile, analysts at Fitch are expecting Macau to return to 90 percent of pre-pandemic levels by 2025, also removing the negative watch rating for Las Vegas Sands, Sands China and Marina Bay Sands after the Macau subsidiary signed its new casino concession agreement.

What you need to know

Authorities in Macau have lifted the mandatory quarantine requirements for all arrivals, marking a possible return to normal for the SAR.
Fitch Ratings predicts Macau GGR will return to 90 percent of pre-pandemic levels by 2025, removes ratings watch for LVS and subsidiaries.

On the radar

NSW govt clarifies intended casino tax rate increase for The Star and Crown.
Zhang Jianjun takes on Co-Chairman role in Paradise Entertainment.
Macau visitor arrivals in November down 54% year-on-year.

AGB Intelligence

MACAU

Macau removes mandatory quarantine for all arrivals

Macau has finally decided to move forward, eliminating mandatory quarantine for all arrivals to the city. The city's Red health code has also been slashed, with arrivals to the city still required to provide negative NAT proof before departure and undergo RAT testing during five days after arrival. The measure bodes well for the Chinese New Year Golden Week in January, the first month for operators under their new casino concessions.