THE MACAU METRO MONITOR, OCTOBER 3, 2013
MACAU SEPTEMBER GGR DICJ
Macau grossing gaming revenues rose 21.4% YoY in September to MOP 28.963 billion (HKD 28.12 billion, USD 3.63 billion).
GOV'T TO MAINTAIN BAN ON NON-LOCAL CROUPIERS Macau Daily Times
Macau CEO Chui Sai On said that there will be no changes to the regulations concerning croupiers. Chui’s words were corroborated by the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Francis Tam, who even said it was “awkward” that the issue was being raised. The Secretary doubted the accuracy of predictions indicating the need for 10,000 more croupiers. “Do you think that so many will be needed?” he fired back at a journalist.
BELOW-PAR CASINOS DISPUTE SMOKING AREA FINDINGS Macau Business
The government has yet to publish the names of casinos that failed a second round of checks on air quality in their designated smoking zones because some have disputed the findings. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Cheong U said, "The reason for the delay is that we have received some appeals.”
NATIONAL DAY VISITOR NUMBERS LOWER THAN IN 2012 Macau Business
Official data show 124,499 visitors arrived on October 1, down 6% YoY. But the Macau Government Tourist Office data show 102,227 of the visitors were mainlanders, +16% YoY. The mainland’s ban on cheap package tours – run by operators that recoup their costs by compelling tourists to shop in shops that pay commission – came into force on October 1. Anecdotal evidence suggests the ban appears to have had some effect on visitor numbers.
