The Macau Metro Monitor, July 31, 2012
GOV'T CONFIRMS 3% CAP IS NOT RIGID Macau Business
The 3% average yearly growth rate cap to be introduced for 2013 for live gaming tables will be liberally applied to ensure it doesn’t impact the development of the gaming industry. This was already the understanding among industry insiders, but the Office of the Secretary for Economy and Finance has now confirmed it to Portuguese-language newspaper Ponto Final.
This means that the incremental cap is set to be liberally applied such that new tables will be allotted from the total number that will accrue by 2023 – around 1,650 new tables, according to Ponto Final – rather than be squeezed into the market through marginal annual increases that could hold back the opening of new casinos.