Macao

13 September 2024
Macao's former top judge, Sam Hou-fai, announces his candidacy for chief executive on Aug. 28.
Macao in June: Some mainland Chinese are believed to use casinos in Macao as a way to circumvent strict capital controls by Beijing. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Politics

Macao casinos rake in revenue as authorities target money changers

Unlicensed services for gamblers seen as path to skirt Beijing's capital controls

1 September 2024
Sam Hou-fai walks to a vehicle after announcing his candidacy for Macao's chief executive election on Aug. 28.
Politics

Macao judge announces bid to become casino city's chief executive

Sam Hou-fai's run follows leader Ho Iat-seng's decision not to seek second term

28 August 2024
Macao Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng, center, attends a tech event in the former Portuguese colony in May. He surprised observers on Aug. 21 by announcing that he would not seek reelection in October due to "health reasons." (Photo by Kensaku Ihara) 
Politics

Macao leader Ho Iat Seng says he will not seek second term

Chief cites health for unusual decision less than 2 months before election

21 August 2024
Many companies showed off their products at the G2E Asia casino expo held in Macao, on June 4. (Photo by Kensaku Ihara)
Travel & Leisure

Macao expo highlights casinos' search for post-pandemic growth

Osaka's plans for integrated resort in 2030 gains attention

5 June 2024
Secretary for Attractiveness Frederic Genta is pitching the wealthy European principality of Monaco to Asian investors. (Monaco's Government Communication Department)
International relations

Monaco 'attractiveness secretary' woos Asian investors on Macao visit

Prince Albert II's microstate bets on ties between Monte Carlo and Macao casinos

16 April 2024
Jockeys compete in the last races at the Macau Jockey Club on March 30, ending over 40 years of racing in the former Portuguese colony known for its casinos.
Travel & Leisure

Macao horse racing ends as casino income hits post-COVID high

Fans blame operator for sport's demise in gambling hub

1 April 2024
An MGM Cotai employee prepares for the opening of the casino in Macau, China. Investors are beginning to see Macau casinos' bonds as "promising."
Markets

Bond investors turn from China property to Macao casinos

Tourism recovery supports revenues but mainland's slow recovery still a concern

16 November 2023
Visitors gather at the Casino Lisboa in Macao. The operator, SJM Holdings, narrowed its losses during the first half.
Travel & Leisure

Junket agents return to lure VIPs to Macao's casinos

Industry brokers bringing back high rollers despite Beijing's crackdown

9 September 2023
GZCCI Group invests in, constructs and operates urban infrastructure. (Source photo by Getty and logo from GZCCI Group's website)
DealStreetAsia

Chinese state-owned company to invest $1.4b in Greater Bay Area

GZCCI Group sets up fund for cultural industry projects in southern China

27 June 2023
Casino Lisboa in Macao is operated by SJM Holdings. First-quarter gaming revenue in the city got a boost from China's reopening, but uncertainties linger. 
Travel & Leisure

Macao casinos' reopening boost blunted by junket crackdown

Recovery in gaming pushes up revenue but high rollers stay away

22 May 2023
The opening ceremony of the Beyond Expo in Macao was held May 10. (Photo by Takashi Kawakami)
Technology

Macao expo touts Chinese advances in AI and sustainability

Event at Venetian Macao opens with 600 companies including Alibaba, Huawei

10 May 2023
Khaosan Road, a popular tourism spot in Bangkok. Thailand looks to boost tourism by making casinos legal. (Photo by Kosuke Inoue)
Travel & Leisure

Thailand weighs bet on legalizing casinos to draw more tourists

Las Vegas Sands among the players interested in potential new gambling destination

25 February 2023
Macao's landmark Casino Lisboa. The city's VIP gambling business suffered a sharp downturn during the pandemic.
Travel & Leisure

Macao slaps new tax on VIP gambling business

Junket operators say 5% levy on casino commissions will 'kill' sector

8 February 2023
A man walks in front of Macao's landmark Casino Lisboa. The gambling hub's casino-dependent economy was battered by the pandemic.
Travel & Leisure

Macao's casino economy woes deepen pandemic poverty

Bettors return to gambling hub's glitzy venues but rebound long way off

4 February 2023
Macao's gambling industry, a key pillar of its economy, has taken a beating from COVID and a crackdown on VIP bettors.
Business Spotlight

Macao gambles on diversification after crackdown on high rollers

VIP rooms out, vanilla tourism in as city seeks to steer economy in new direction

27 January 2023
Former Suncity Group boss Alvin Chau in 2017. The father of four was seen as a pillar of the city before his arrest. (File photo by Getty Images)
Travel & Leisure

Macao junkets king Alvin Chau sentenced to 18 years in prison

Suncity Group founder faced raft of charges over running 'criminal empire'

18 January 2023
Alvin Chau was arrested in November 2021 by Macao police. (Nikkei montage/Reuters/Getty Images)
Travel & Leisure

Macao set to hand down verdict in junkets king Alvin Chau case

Suncity founder faces hundreds of charges linked to claims he ran criminal empire

17 January 2023
China is set to announce on Tuesday GDP growth rates for the last quarter and the 2022 full year, along with other key economic data. In December it scrapped its zero-COVID strategy, which had weighed on growth.
Your Week in Asia

Davos 2023, China GDP, Chinese Lunar New Year starts

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

15 January 2023
The Grand Lisboa casino in Macao. The Chinese territory is one of the world's largest gambling hubs.
Travel & Leisure

Macao casino revenue plunges 51% to 18-year low amid zero-COVID

Territory poised for recovery from 2022 slump as China eases pandemic curbs

5 January 2023
A woman gets swabbed to be tested for COVID-19 in Shanghai. Beginning on Jan. 5, all air passengers heading to the U.S., 2 years old and older, will require a negative result from a test no more than two days before departure from China, Hong Kong or Macao.
Coronavirus

U.S. to require negative COVID test results for travelers from China

Washington joins Japan, Taiwan, India and Italy in taking new measures

29 December 2022
Chinese mainlanders are increasingly visiting Macao to receive mRNA vaccoines. (Source photos by AFP/Jiji and AP) 
Coronavirus

Chinese visitors lured by mRNA vaccines to Macao, Hong Kong

Mainlanders flock to enclave, prepare for Hong Kong border to reopen to get shots

25 December 2022
The Malaysian parliament opens for the first time after last month's general elections that created a new government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Your Week in Asia

Malaysia parliament convenes, Japan approves draft budget, Nio Day

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

18 December 2022
Macao's landmark Casino Lisboa. Gambling revenues have plummeted in the former Portuguese colony after years of COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Travel & Leisure

Casino hub Macao set for worst year on record as COVID bites

Gambling-dependent economy hammered as lockdowns keep crowds away

3 December 2022
Genting's casino hotel Resorts World in Pahang, Malaysia: Genting lost its bid for a license to operate a casino in Macao, with the six current operators winning approval for another 10 years.
Travel & Leisure

Macao gaming stocks rise after new licenses decided

Malaysia's Genting loses bet on Macao gaming license

28 November 2022