MACAU SAR, CHINA Law and Practice Contributed by: Pedro Cortés, Lektou
1. Introduction 1.1 Current Outlook and Recent Changes Macau’s gaming industry entered 2025 with renewed momentum and a clearer regulatory horizon. In his Policy Address of 14 April 2025, Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the dual objectives of “innovation and diversification” while consolidating regulatory oversight of the gaming sector. The emphasis is now on the effective execu- tion of non-gaming projects, reinforcement of compli- ance standards, and the continued alignment of the gaming industry with the broader economic diversifi- cation strategy of Macau SAR. The market has responded positively to this environ- ment. According to the Gaming Inspection and Co- Ordination Bureau (DICJ), Macau recorded its highest post-pandemic gross gaming revenue (GGR) in August 2025, reaching MOP22.16 billion (approximately USD2.77 billion), following equally strong results in June and July 2025. Government macro-forecasts set full-year GGR at approximately MOP240 billion (around USD30 billion), while independent analysts project 5–6% growth in 2025 – a sign of sustained recovery and operational stability moving into 2026. Legislation On the legislative front, Law 7/2024 (Credit for Gam- ing) and Law 20/2024 (Illegal Gambling) have now moved from enactment to implementation. Law 7/2024, effective 1 August 2024, restricts the exten- sion of gaming credit to concessionaires themselves, centralising credit risk and improving traceability. Law 20/2024, meanwhile, has broadened investigative powers, strengthened sanctions, and underpinned a series of publicly announced enforcement actions, a trend expected to continue in the years ahead. At the administrative level, the DICJ underwent sig- nificant restructuring in 2025, marked by the appoint- ment of a new director, signalling the government’s intention to strengthen institutional governance and modernise supervision. The Bureau also expanded its inspectorate incorporating new officers, reinforc- ing its capacity for on-site supervision and real-time monitoring. Technological adoption has accelerated, particularly with radio-frequency identification (RFID)-
enabled chip tracking now used to attribute play to foreign patrons – a data-driven measure introduced after the limited results of the foreign-player zones and now integral to administering tax incentives for international-market development. The transition of satellite casinos, mandated under the Gaming Law (Law 16/2001, with amendments introduced by Law 7/2022) remains one of the most consequential structural adjustments of the current concession cycle. The law requires that all gam- ing venues operate from properties owned by their respective concessionaires by 31 December 2025, effectively ending the traditional model in which third- party investors partnered with operators under reve- nue-sharing or service agreements. A further regulatory development with direct impli- cations for the gaming industry is the government’s consultation on the revision of Macau’s Advertising Law (Law No 7/89/M), launched on 4 July 2025. The consultation paper proposes a new framework that would explicitly prohibit the advertising of games of fortune or chance across all media, including digital and cross-border online platforms. It clarifies that ref- erences to casinos, gaming equipment, or gambling behaviour that could be construed as encouraging participation in gaming activities would be deemed unlawful, even if indirectly presented. The draft further contemplates increased fines, imme- diate removal or blocking of infringing online content, and potential suspension of business operations in cases of repeated breaches. If implemented, these amendments will represent the first substantive reform of gambling-related advertising in over three decades, imposing stricter compliance and monitoring duties on casino concessionaires, gaming promoters, and marketing affiliates operating in or targeting the Macau market. Over the course of 2025, some long-standing satel- lite casinos – particularly those in standalone hotels – have already ceased (or announced they will cease) operations or re-purposed their premises ahead of the deadline. This consolidation may affect employment levels, supply-chain contracts, and small-scale hos- pitality operators, but is viewed by policymakers as
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