Plans are afoot to raise the legal age to enter casinos from 18 to 21. Reported in the latest issue of Macau Business, the age limit is being supported by the region’s largest operators. The measure will also apply to casino personnel. Businesses are happy to comply but are concerned by the lack of clarification as to how age checks will be carried out. The British “got any ID fella’” method is likely to fall flat on its face in Macau.
Businesses really don’t seem overly concerned. Wynn Macau commented that the casino “attracts fewer players in the 18 to 21 age group.” Galaxy Entertainment Corp vice-chairman Francis Lui, added, “From our customers, those within the 18 to 21 years range are only a few. This measure will not affect our flow of customers a lot.”
MGM China is more worried about employees, a written statement reading, “The new bill will lead to fewer available talents for casino employers.”
The result of a change in the age limit won’t cause too many problems as long as the high rollers don’t stop coming.
The Macau Poker Cup saw a record amount of prize money awarded in the fourth annual event of its kind. Ending on Sunday, a total of HK$9.5m (US$1.2m) was awarded in prize money. The amount of competitors was also at an all time high as 1,632 souls turned out at the Casino Grand Lisboa compared with last year’s 1,579. Qualifier Kwan Pao Mah, who took down the field of 447 and HK $983,400 prize fund, won the Red Dragon main event. The poker industry shows that Macau is for life – not just for Christmas.
