Major concessionaires including SJM, Melco, and Galaxy confirm closures ahead of legal deadline
The Macau SAR Government has confirmed that all remaining satellite casinos will cease operations by 31 December 2025, bringing an end to a unique chapter in the city’s gaming industry. This move follows the revised legal framework introduced under Gaming Law No. 7/2022, which mandates a shift from third-party-operated satellite models to concessionaire-owned or directly managed venues.
Three of Macau’s six gaming concessionaires – SJM Resorts, Melco Resorts, and Galaxy Entertainment – have submitted formal notices to the Government outlining plans to shutter 11 satellite casinos before the end of the law’s three-year transition period.
SJM to Acquire Two Sites, Shutter Seven Others
Leading the restructuring is SJM Resorts, which currently manages nine satellite casinos. The company has disclosed plans to acquire Casino L’Arc Macau and Casino Ponte 16, pending negotiations. According to a board statement, these two properties have been selected as they align with the group’s long-term strategic and operational goals.
However, SJM will not renew agreements for seven other satellite casinos, including Casino Casa Real, Casino Emperor Palace, and Casino Fortuna. These closures reflect the operator’s efforts to consolidate operations and comply with new legal requirements on ownership and profit structures.
Melco and Galaxy Follow Suit
Melco Resorts has announced it will shut down three of its Mocha Club venues but is seeking government approval to continue operating another three under compliant management arrangements. Galaxy Entertainment Group, while less public about specifics, has also submitted its satellite closure plans.
This collective withdrawal signifies a broad industry realignment aimed at reinforcing transparency and financial accountability within Macau’s gaming sector.
5,600 Jobs to Be Reallocated
The transition will directly impact around 5,600 local workers, though the concessionaires and the Labour Affairs Bureau have pledged to protect employment. SJM Resorts said it would offer affected employees new positions within its corporate portfolio and reassign gaming equipment like tables and slots to its flagship properties.
“All Macau residents currently working at the satellite casinos scheduled for closure… will be offered job opportunities within SJM Resorts’ portfolio of properties,” the company stated.
The Labour Affairs Bureau has committed to monitoring the employment process closely, ensuring workers’ rights are upheld during the reallocation phase.
End of a Macau-Specific Casino Model
Satellite casinos were a uniquely Macau phenomenon, where non-license-holding property owners partnered with concessionaires to operate gaming businesses. While once a pragmatic model for market expansion, regulators have grown concerned about oversight and profit-sharing complexities.
With the complete phase-out scheduled for the end of 2025, the Macau gaming landscape is entering a new era of streamlined, concessionaire-controlled operations – one that prioritises legal compliance, asset ownership, and the protection of local employment.
