Macau casino numbers down sharply from peak years
Macau's casino count has significantly decreased from 43 in 2019 to 23 today, driven by closures related to the pandemic and new gaming laws.Summary
Macau, once known as “Casinoland,” has experienced a sharp decline in the number of casinos, particularly following the closure of satellite casinos. The decrease began around 2017 with venues like the Jimei Casino and Macau Jockey Club Casino closing, and accelerated during the Covid-19 pandemic with closures like Diamond Casino and Casino Taipa. Further closures occurred in 2022 and 2023, including Royal Dragon, Rio, and President casinos, largely due to the new Gaming Law requiring the closure of satellite casinos by December 31, 2025. This has reduced the total number of gambling venues to 23, roughly half the number from a decade ago, with the ZAPE district experiencing the most significant losses. While the future of these former casino spaces is uncertain, the government views the reduction as beneficial for Macau’s tourism image and economic diversification, and some observers believe it may reduce gambling interest among smaller players.
(Source：Macau Daily Times)