The Macau government has published long-awaited guidelines for the re-tendering process for its six casino concessions, though the broad brush outline is still short on specifics, industry observers say.
The regulations mention that the government’s award criteria will pay close attention to the bidding companies’ plans to develop foreign tourist markets, the benefits brought by gaming and non-gaming investments to Macau, and the corporate social responsibilities they undertake.
The full name of the regulation is Administrative Regulation No. 28/2022 – Amendment of Administrative Regulation No. 26/2001 “Regulating the open bidding and granting contracts for casino games of fortune operations, and the appropriateness of bidding companies and approving companies, eligibility and financial requirements.”
The rules, published in Traditional Chinese and Portuguese, follow the passing of Macau’s amended gaming law last month.
Some of the criteria for the tender process listed in the rules are:
Analysts at J.P. Morgan said they still expected that the six incumbent operators in Macau will emerge as the victors for the new licenses. They said the main surprise for them in the tender document was the speed of the timing, which comes just 14 days after the enactment of the new Gaming Law.
“This, in our view suggests the government’s eagerness to finish the renewal process within the year. We expect the six winners to be announced in early November,” analysts commented.
Source: GMB / Inside Asian Gaming
