The Macau Metro Monitor, June 27, 2011


MACAU'S GAMING REGULATOR ADVISES CASINOS TO DROP ULTRA-LOW DENOMINATION SLOT GAMES IAG

Several of Macau’s gaming concessionaires have been advised by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) that slot games with denominations of less than 10HK cents per line are non-compliant and raises problem gambling issues.  IAG says the regulator has not gone as far as to issue a formal directive to ban the 2HK cent and 5HK cent games, but is currently issuing informal guidance that it would like to see their use discontinued. 

Several industry sources say currently, a small number of slot players using high denomination machines are providing the majority of the revenues, thus suggesting that the revenue implications of banning ultra-low denomination machines may be minimal.

EMPLOYMENT SURVEY FOR MARCH-MAY 2011 DSEC

Unemployment rate for the March-May 2011 period was 2.6%, down 0.1% point from Feb-April period and the lowest since the Handover of Macau to China.  DSEC said this was due to opening of Galaxy Macau.  Total labor force was 337,000 in March-May 2011 and the labor force participation rate stood at 71.6%, up by 0.4% point from the Feb-April period.

IMPORTED WORKERS ON THE RISE Macau Business

In May 2011, the number of non-resident workers in Macau reached 84,000, +1.6% MoM.

BUDGET SURPLUS RECORDS NEW INCREASE Macau Daily Times

According to provisional data released by the Macau Finance Services Bureau (DSF), direct taxes from gaming totaled MOP 35.17BN, up 46.2% YoY, from January to May 2011.