Macau’s casino landscape is changing fast, with multiple satellite venues now heading toward closure. Operators are adjusting to a new legal framework that forces a shift in how these properties are structured and managed.
Good to know
- SJM Holdings will shut down seven satellite casinos by the end of 2025.
- Melco and Galaxy are also reducing operations, citing strategy and commercial needs.
- New laws require satellites to move away from revenue-sharing and adopt management-fee models.
Melco Resorts & Entertainment has confirmed it will close its Grand Dragon Casino, along with three Mocha Club-branded slot lounges. The company described the move as part of its development plan and stated it aligns with Macau’s updated legal structure. Some locations, like Mocha Inner Harbour and Mocha Golden Dragon, will remain open if approved by regulators.
Galaxy Entertainment Group has also joined in, announcing the closure of Waldo Casino. The decision, labeled as a commercial one, comes with a promise to transfer staff to other venues under the company’s control.
But the most drastic move comes from SJM Holdings. The operator plans to shut down seven of its nine satellite casinos by the end of the year. It intends to bring the remaining two—Ponte 16 and L’Arc Macau—under direct management. Properties set for closure include Landmark, Legend Palace, Kam Pek Paradise, Fortuna, Grandview, Casa Real, and Emperor Palace. All service agreements for these sites expire on December 31.
SJM confirmed that affected staff would be given opportunities elsewhere within its portfolio.
The root of these closures lies in the legal changes introduced in 2022. That year, Macau restructured its gaming regulations when it awarded six new 10-year casino concessions. Under the new system, satellite operators could no longer run on a profit-sharing basis. Instead, they were required to transition to models where licensees owned the assets directly. Operators that continued had to accept fixed management fees rather than a share of casino revenue.
The deadline to complete this transition was set for three years after the new concessions were awarded. As the end of 2025 approaches, many operators have chosen to exit instead of adapt.
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