Your Daily Asia Gaming eBrief: Macau enters new era, with border reopenings

Monday 9th of January 2023

Good morning. Macau is attempting to return to normal, with a push to open up as much as possible ahead of the Chinese New Year holidays. New ferry routes to Hong Kong and mainland China are opening, as the first day of new measures - not requiring entrants from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan to be submitted to testing - drew nearly 40k visitors. Also in Macau, the gaming watchdog has extended its transition period for electronic gaming machine standards.

What you need to know

Macau attempts to return to normal, opening up entry avenues including ferries and buses to Hong Kong, ahead of the CNY holiday.
Macau's gaming watchdog has extended the transition period for operators to abide by new electronic gaming machine standards.

On the radar

Philippines in talks to open up direct flights to China.
Cambodia implements new tax regime on commercial gambling.
Macau Legend signs deal with SJM to operate satellite casinos.
Macau recommences ferry operations to Shenzhen airport.

AGB Intelligence

MACAU

Macau tries to return to normal ahead of CNY

Macau is opening up its travel avenues to visitors, particularly from China, increasing its ferry schedules and bus routes ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday. On the first day after measures were relaxed, allowing for visitors from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan to enter without requiring testing, nearly 40,000 visitors entered Macau. The upcoming holidays are predicted to set the tone for visitation over 2023.