Macau government has reportedly declared that it is an ‘inevitable reality’ that the number of VIP gambling clubs will continue to decrease as a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the Economic and Finance Secretary, Lei Wai Nong (pictured), the city recorded a decrease of almost 66% year-on-year in aggregated December gross gambling revenues to approximately $979 million. The source detailed that this result represented a 15th consecutive month of comparable declines with VIP takings for the most recent fourth quarter having plummeted by 80% when set alongside the same period in 2019.
Macau is now home to only 77 VIP clubs running a little over 1,560 gambling tables. The Asian gambling hotspot saw ten of its licensed junket operators shut up shop last year to leave only 85 such enterprises operational.
“The situation during the pandemic is flat and it would be hard to welcome visitors during the Chinese New Year. The priority is to prevent and control the pandemic in order to gain the approval and support from the central government.” Stated Lei.
Highlighting the importance of gambling to Macau, 9,940 people were last month employed by local casino operators in middle and high management roles with some 89% of these being native-born workers. The industry’s total workforce at 26,102.
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