Macau Casino Age Limit 2019

Posted : admin On 3/22/2022
Country/ TerritoryOn-premise saleOff-premise saleSupply by any personConsumptionNotesLegislation and regulations
Afghanistan[prohibited][prohibited]Penal Code Art 349-352
Law to Fight Against Alcoholic Beverages and Narcotic Substances and to Control Them
Albania18181818Consumption in public places by those under 18 is prohibited.Law 9518 of 18 April 2006 For the protection of minors from the use of alcohol
Algeria1818[none][none]Order No. 26-75 of 1975 Art 14
Andorra18181818Consumption in public places by those under 18 is prohibited.Decree 16-6-2004 Approving Regulation of Sale and Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages
Angola[varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction]18 in Luanda[pending verification]
Antigua and Barbuda161616[none]Licensing (intoxicating liquor) Act Ch 249
Argentina1818[none][none]Law No24.788 Combatting Alcoholism, published in Official Bulletin 3rd April 1997
Armenia1818Code of Administrative Offences Art 158
Australia18*18*[varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction]*Exceptions may apply if accompanied by a responsible adult.Regulated at state/territory level. See Youth Law Australia: Alcohol
Austria[varies by beverage][varies by beverage][none][varies by beverage]On- and off-premise, consumption: 18 for spirits, 16 for other alcohol beverages
Each federal state prohibits sale of alcohol beverages to anyone under 16 years of age.
Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tirol, and Voralberg also prohibit sale of spirits and mixed drinks (whether pre-mixed drinks or cocktails) to anyone under 18 years of age.		National Youth Protection Act 2002
Austrian Federal Government: Overview by state
Azerbaijan1818[none][none]Law on Children's Rights Art 9
Bahamas1818[none][none]Liquor Licences Act Ch 372: 22
Bahrain[prohibited][prohibited]Penal Code 1976 as amended through 2010 Art 307
Bangladesh[varies by religion][varies by religion]Alcohol may not be purchased by Muslims. [verification pending]Narcotics Control Act 1990
Barbados16[none][none][none]Chapter 182 Liquor licenses and Liquor license regulations do not establish legal purchase or consumption age limits.[pending verification]
Belarus1818 [none][none]Law No. 429-Z on State Regulation of Production and Turnover of Alcoholic, Non-food Alcohol-containing Products and Non-food Ethyl Alcohol Art 11.4
Belgium[varies by beverage][varies by beverage][varies by beverage][none]on- and off-premise, supply:
18 for distilled beverages of higher than 1.2%ABV and fermented beverages of higher than 22%ABV;
16 for other alcohol beverages		Act of 24 January 1977 on the protection of consumer health concerning food and other products (as amended through 2009) Art 6
Belize1818[none][none]Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Law CAP. 150, as revised December 2000
Benin202020[none]Decree of 10 June 1942 regulating the production, import, advertisement, sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in French West Africa, as cited in Republic of Benin Report to UN Committee on the Rights of the Child CRC/C/BEN/2, 24 November 2005
Bermuda181818[none]Liquor License Act 1974 (amended 2014) Art 42
Bhutan1818[none][none]Rules and Regulations For Establishment And Operation of Industrial And Commercial Ventures in Bhutan 1995, Rule 17
Notification No. Kha(12-7)/89/5070 dated 26 April 1993
Bolivia1818[none][none]Consumption of alcohol beverages without food in the company of minors under 18 years of age is prohibited in public places.Law 259 Against the Sale and Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages, July 2012 Art 20
Bosnia and Herzegovina181818[none]Law on Public Peace and Order (2015) Art 25
Law on Internal Trade (2010), Art 10
Botswana181818[none]Liquor Act No.9 of 2004 Art 32
Children Act 2009 Sec 2, 60
Brazil181818[none]Presidential Amendment 13,106 of 17 March 2015 of
Law 8096 (1990) Statute on Children and Adolescents Art. 243
Decree-Law 3,688 (1941) Law on Criminal Misdemeanors
Brunei[prohibited][prohibited]Non-Muslims over 17 years of age are allowed to import alcohol not to exceed maximum total volume 2 L of spirits and 12 330 mL cans of beer for personal use, once in 48 hours. This alcohol must be “stored and consumed at the place of residence of the importer” and is “not to be given, transferred or sold to another person.”Liquor Form, Royal Customs and Excise Department, Ministry of Finance
Bulgaria181818[none]Health Act 2005 Art 5
Child Protection Act
Burkina Faso1818[none][none]Penal Code Art 532-23
Burundi18*18*[none][none]*unless accompanied by parentPenal Code Art 501-502 (Law No1/05 of 22 April 2009)
Cabo Verde181818[none]Law No. 271/V/97
Cambodia[none][none][none][none][n/a]
Cameroon18*18*[none][none]*unless accompanied by person aged 21 or above in a supervisory rolePenal Code n° 67/LF/1, 12 June 1967
Canada[varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction][none]18 in Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec;
19 in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, and Yukon.
Drinking by minors under adult supervision is permitted in licensed premises in Manitoba and New Brunswick and at home in Prince Edward Island, Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Saskatchewan		Act respecting Offences Relating to Alcoholic Beverages, CQLR c I-8.1
Cayman Islands18181818Liquor Licensing Law Art 21
Central African Republic[none][none][none][none][n/a]
Chad18*18*[none][none]*unless accompanied by supervising adultLaw 2017-01 Penal Code Chapter 6 Art 376-378
Chile1818[none]18Minors may be served alcohol beverages if accompanied by a parent at an establishment serving food.Law 19.925 on the Sale and Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages
China18*18*[none][none]*Macau autonomous region does not have specific regulation limiting the sale of alcohol beverages to minors.Law on the Protection of Minors as revised in 2006 Art 37
Chinese Taipei181818[none]Tobacco and Alcohol Administration Act 2000 Art 35
Protection of Children and Youth Welfare and Rights Act as amended in 2019 Art 91
Colombia18181818Decree 120 of 21 January 2010 Adopting measures related to consumption of alcohol Art 17
Law 124 of 1994
Comoros[varies by religion][varies by religion][none][varies by religion]Production of alcohol beverages, their sale to Muslims, and their consumption by Muslims are prohibited; age limits are not specified for non-Muslims.Penal Code Arts 229-6, 229-7
Congo, Republic of181818[none]Law No.4-2010 of 14 June 2010 Child Protection Code Art 69, 123
Costa Rica18181818Decree 17410 (2010) Law Regulating Alcoholic Beverages
Croatia1818[none][none]Trade Act (Official Gazette of the Republic of Croatia 87/2008, 116/2009, 76/2009, 114/2011, 68/2013 and 30/2014)
Cuba1616[none][none]Resolution No 334/04, Official Gazette 7 January 2005
Cyprus17171717Sale of Alcoholic Beverage Law (Cap 144) Art 5A
Czechia181818[none]Act 379/2005 on Measures to Protect Against Damage Caused by Tobacco Products, Alcohol and Other Addictive Substances, through Amendment 274/2008
Denmark18[varies by beverage][none][none]Off-premise: 16 for beverages of 1.2%-16.5%ABV; 18 for alcohol beverages of 16.5%ABV or higher.Act prohibiting the sale of tobacco and alcohol to persons under 16, march 2004
Djibouti[none][none][none][none][n/a]
Dominica1616[none][none]Laws of Dominica Liquor Licences Act Chapter 70:03, Part IV, Sec 15(f)
Dominican Republic1818[none][none]Law No.136-03: Code for the protection of the rights of Children and Adolescents 2003, Art 22
Ecuador1818[none][none]Reforms of the General Rules on the Natural Law for Consumer Protection, 11 June 2001 No.344
Egypt2121[none][none]Law No. 371 of 1956 concerning public shops and the resolutions implementing it Art 25
Law of Public Places Art 2
Law of Recreational Places and Law 63/1976 Art 24
El Salvador181818[none]Law regulating the production and sale of alcohol and alcohol beverages No640 (1996)
Eritrea181818[none]Penal Code Art 267
Estonia18181818Alcohol Act 1999 Art 19
Eswatini1818[none][none]Liquor Licences Act of 1964 Sec 27
Ethiopia181818[none]Criminal Code, Proclamation 414/2004 Art 513, 818
Revised Family Code, Proclamation No. 213/2000 Art 215
Fiji1818[none][none]The Liquor Act 2006 as amended through 2009 Sec 2
Finland18[varies by beverage][varies by beverage][varies by beverage]18 for beverages up to 22% ABV; 20 for other beveragesAlcohol Act 1143/94, amended 1477/94 Sec 16, 24
France1818[none][none]Code of Public Health as amended through June 2015 Art L3342
Gabon1818[none][none]Penal Code Art. 209bis-1
Gambia1616[none][none]Liquor License Act S16 as revised in 2009
Children and Young Persons Act 1949
Georgia1818[none][none]Law on Protecting Minors from Harmful Influences (2001) Art 4
Germany[varies by beverage][varies by beverage][varies by beverage][none]16 for beer and wine (14 if accompanied by parent or guardian), 18 for spirits
Those below 18 years of age are not permitted in premises licensed as bars, nightclubs and similar entertainment venues.		Protection of Young Person Act 2002 and Amendment BT-DRS. 15/2578
Ghana1818[none][none]Liquor Licensing Act 331-1970 Sec 15
Greece1818[none]18Law 3730/2008 Protecting minors from tobacco and alcoholic beverages, and other provisions Art 4
Grenada16[none][none][none]Chapter 174 Liquor Dealers’ Licenses Act As amended through 1988 Art 39
Guatemala18181818Public Health Code (1998) Art 50
Guinea Bissau[none][none][none][none][n/a]
Guyana18*18[none][none]*16 for wine or malt liquor to be consumed with a mealIntoxicating Liquor Licensing Act 1998
Haiti[none][none][none][none]The Senate voted on a proposed Law on the protection of minors from alcohol beverages, to establish a legal purchase age of 18 and related implementation measures, in December 2012; it has not yet been enacted.
Honduras1818[none][none]The definition of punishable gang activity for minors aged 12-18 includes drinking alcohol beverages in public places.Decree 226 of 2001 Art 68, 90-91, 146
Hungary1818[none][none]Law on Trade (2005) Sec 5 Art 7
Iceland202020[none]Alcohol Act No. 75/1998 Art 18
India[varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction]Purchase ages:
18 in Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Sikkim, and Puducherry
21 in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Orissa (Odisha), Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal
25 in Haryana, Meghalaya, Punjab, Delhi
Sale is prohibited: Bihar, Gujarat, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Lakshadweep		[various - see state Excise Acts and related regulaitons]
Indonesia[varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction]Sale is prohibited in Banda Aceh and Papua;
21 elsewhere for both on- and off-premise sale		Ministry of Trade Regulation No 20/2014 Art 15
Aceh Law No 6/2014 (Oct. 22, 2014) Art 3
Iran[prohibited][prohibited][n/a]
Iraq[prohibited][prohibited][Law passed by Parliament on October 23, 2016]
Ireland18181818**Parents can permit their underage child to drink in private residences.Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 Sec 13
Israel1818[none]18Business Licensing Law 2010 (26th amendment)
Law to control alcohol intoxication 2010
Italy1818[none][none]Penal Code, Book III, Title I, Art 689 as amended by Law 189/2012
Jamaica1818[none][none]Spirit License Act 42/1995, Sec 62
Child Care and Protection Act 2004, Sec 40
Japan2020[none]20Underage Drinking Act 2001
Jordan1818[none][none]Royal Decree (October 2001)
Kazakhstan2121[none][none]Code of Administrative Offences Sec 200
Kenya1818[none][none]The Alcoholic Drinks Control Act 2010 Part III Licensing 24.1
Kiribati2121Liquor Ordinance 1973
Liquor (Amendment) Act 12-2005
Korea, Republic of19*19*19*[none]*Being 19 is defined, for the purposes of this legislation, as effective from January 1st of the 19th year after one's birthJuvenile Protection Act 2010 Art 1, 28
Kuwait[prohibited][prohibited]Law No 46/1964
Kyrgyzstan1818[none][none]Law 269 of 13/09/2009 Art 13.2
Lao People's Democratic Republic1818[none][none]Law on Control of Alcoholic Beverages 2015
Latvia1818[none][none]Handling of Alcohol Law as amended through 1999 Sec 52
Lebanon181818[none]Penal Code Art 625-626
Lesotho18181818Liquor Licensing Act 1997 Sec 39
Liberia181818*[none]*'this section shall not apply to a parent or guardian who serves an alcoholic beverage to his child or ward'Penal Law of 1976 Sec 16, 50.7
Libya[prohibited][prohibited]Law No 4 of 1423 m Art 1
Liechtenstein[varies by beverage][varies by beverage][varies by beverage][varies by beverage]Across age limits: 18 for spirits and alcopops; 16 for other alcohol beveragesChildren and Youth Act 2008 Art 5,69
Lithuania20202020Law on Alcohol Control I-857/1995 Art 22
Luxembourg161616[none]
Malawi1818[none][none]Liquor Act Sec 2, 74
Malaysia[varies by religion][varies by religion]sale to Muslims is prohibited; 21 otherwise for on- and off-premiseFood Act Regulation 1985/361 as updated through 2014 Art 4, State and Federal Territories Syariah Criminal Offences Enactments
Maldives[prohibited][prohibited]Sale to citizens is prohibitedPenal Code Law No. 6/2014 Sec 616
Mali[none][none][none][none][n/a]
Malta17171717Trading Licences Act Subsidiary Legislation 441.07 Regulation 13 as amended through 2011 Art 7
Cap 10 Code of Police Laws Art 185, 316
Marshall Islands21212121Alcohol Restriction Act of 1994 Art 202(1)
Mauritania[prohibited][prohibited][n/a]
Mauritius1818[none][none]Child Protection Act 30/1994 Sec 16, 18
Mexico18181818General Health Law as amended through 2007 Art 220
Moldova1818[none][none]Law 1100/2000 on Alcohol Production and Sale as amended through 2012 Art 30
Monaco1818[none][none]Ordinance 2,533 of 1941 on manufacture, sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages Art 8
Mongolia21212121**Parents and guardians are prohibited to supply alcohol beverages to young people under 18.Law to Combat Alcoholism 2000, as amended through 2011 Art 7
Montenegro1818[none][none]Law on Public Order (Official Gazette 64/2011) Art 25
Law on Tourism 2010 Art 104
Morocco[varies by religion][varies by religion]sale to Muslims is prohibited; 16 for non-MuslimsLegislative Decision No. 3.177.66 of 1967 Art 28-29
Mozambique1818[none]18Decree 54/2013 Regulations on the Monitoring of the production, sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages, Art 5
Myanmar181818[none]The Excise Act 1958 Art 40(7)
Child Law (1993) Art 65
Namibia1818[none][none]Liquor Act 1998-6 Art 56
Nauru2121Liquor Ordinance 1967 Art 33
Nepal1818[none][none]Liquor Act 2031-10 Art 4A.6
Hotel Management and Sale and Distribution of Liquors (Control) Act as amended through 2010
Netherlands18181818Licensing and Catering Act as amended 2013 Art 20, 45
New Zealand181818**It is a defense to a charge under this prvision if the person supplying the alcohol is a parent or guardian of the minor, and supplies the alcohol in a responsible mannerSale and Supply of Liquor Act 2012 Art 241
Nicaragua1818[none][none]Law 287/1998 Art 66
Niger1818[none][none]Penal Code Art 302
Nigeria[varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction]Purchase age of 18 in Abuja
Prohibited in Borno state		 Abuja Municipal Area Council Bye-Law (2001), Section 15
Niue1818The Liquor Act 1975/2 Art 11
Norway[varies by beverage][varies by beverage][varies by beverage][none]Both on- and off-premise sales:
18 for beverages of 0.7-22%ABV
20 for beverages of 22%ABV and above - this applies to supply by ay person		Law 1989-27 Act on the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages Sec 1-5
Regulation 2005-38 Alcohol Regulations Sec 2-4
North Macedonia1818[none][none]Law on Trade
Oman2121Penal Code Law 7 of 1974
Pakistan[prohibited][prohibited]non-Muslim citizens may possess alcohol to be used in accordance with religious ceremoniesProhibition (Enforcement of Hadd) Order of February 19th, 1979
Palau2121212111 P.N.C. 2014 Sec 1002(h), 1068
Panama181818[none]Law 3 of 1994 Family Code Art 561
Papua New Guinea1818[none]18Liquor Licensing Act 1963 Art 103
Paraguay202020[none]Law 1642 of 2000 Art 1
Peru1818[none][none]Law 28681 of 2006 Art 14
Philippines181818[none]Act Regulating the Access of Minors to Alcohol
Poland1818[none][none]Act on Upbringing in Sobriety and the Prevention of Alcoholism Art 15(2,4)
Portugal181818[none]Decree-Law no 50/2013 as amended by Decree-law no 106/2015
Qatar[prohibited][prohibited]Foreigners holding valid residence permits can apply for licenses to purchase alcohol beverages from the Qatar Distribution Company.Law No 11 of 2004 Art 272
Romania1818[none]18Law 61/1991 as amended through 2011 for sanctioning the violation of rules of social life, the public order Art 22-23
Russia18181816Penalties apply to parents of those under 16 years of age who consume alcohol beverages in public places.Code of Administrative Offences, Art 6.10, 20,22
Rwanda181818[none][none]Organic Law implementing the Penal Code 01/2012/OL Art 219
Saint Kitts and Nevis1818[none][none]Liquor Licences Act Sec 32(f)
Saint Lucia1616[none][none]Chapter 13.17 Liquor Licence Act Art 37
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines1616[none][none]Liquor License Act Sec 27,28(1)
Samoa21*212121*unless at a food and beverage establishment and accompanied by parentLiquor Act 2011 Sec 14, 57
San Marino1616[none][none]Law No. 139 of November 26, 1997
Sao Tome and Principe[none][none][none][none][n/a]
Saudi Arabia[prohibited][prohibited][n/a]
Senegal1818[none][none]Decree 97-338 of 1997 Art 12
Serbia181818[none]Law 62/2014 Consumer Protection Art 24
Seychelles1818[none][none]Chapter 113 Licenses Act as amended through 27th September, 2010
Sierra Leone[none][none][none][none][n/a]
Singapore181818[none]Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act 05/15
Slovakia18181818Law 219/1996 on protection against the abuse of alcoholic beverages and the establishment and operation of abstinence rooms
Slovenia181818[none]Act Restricting the Use of Alcohol (Official Gazette 15/03)
Solomon Islands21212121Liquor Act (Ch. 144) Sec 72
South Africa181818[none]The National Liquor Policy, under discussion in 2015, proposes to raise the on- and off- premise legal purchase ages to 21.Government Gazette No.38808 20 May 2015
South Sudan1818[none][none][verification pending]
Spain18*18*[none][none]*Baleares Islands autonomous region does not have specific regulation limiting the sale of alcohol beverages to minors.Access autonomous region legislation on the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality: Alcohol and youth - Legislation
Sri Lanka2121[none][none]National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act 27 of 2006 Part II Art 31
Sudan[prohibited][prohibited]Penal Code 1991, Art 78-79
Suriname1818[none][none]Law 44 of 2015 on Further Amendment of the Criminal Code
Sweden1820[none][none]Alcohol Act (SFS 2010:1622) Cap 3 Art 7
Switzerland[varies by beverage and jurisdiction][varies by beverage and jurisdiction][none][none]18 for spirits
16 or 18 for beer and wine depending on the Canton		Order on foodstuffs and consumer goods of 23 November 2005 Art. 11
Federal Law on Alcohol of 21 June 1932, as amended through 2011 Art. 41
Federal Customs Adminstration: Prevention and protection of minors
Syria[none][none][none][none][n/a]
Tajikistan181820[none]Law 451 of 1997 on State Regulation of Production and Turnover of Ethyl Alcohol and Alcohol Products Art 12
Law No. 762 on Parental Responsibilities for Raising Children (2011) Art 8
Tanzania1818[none][none]Law No. 21 Law of the Child (2009), Article 17
Thailand2020[none][none]Alcohol Beverage Control Act B.E. 2551 Sec 29
Timor-Leste[none][none][none][none][n/a]
Togo[none][none][none][none][n/a]
Tonga18181818Intoxicating Liquor Act Cap 84 Art 65
Trinidad and Tobago1818[none][none]Liquor Licences Act Cap 84:10 Art 60, as amended 2002
Turkey1818[none][none]Regulation about Retail Sale of Tobacco and Tobacco Products and Alcohol and Alcoholic Drinks 11 January 1998 Art 5
Turkmenistan2121[none][none]Law on Prevention of the Harmful Impact of Alcohol 2018 Art 22-2
Uganda18*18[none][none]*16 for beer, wine, perry, porter, cider, or native liquor with a meal in a meal-service section of the premisesLiquor Act of 1960 Cap 93
Ukraine1818[none][none]Law N 1824-VI 21 January 2010 Art 15-3
United Arab Emirates[varies by religion and jurisdiction][varies by religion and jurisdiction][varies by religion and jurisdiction][varies by religion and jurisdiction]Sale and consumption are prohibited in Sharjah.
In Abu Dhabi, the drinking age limit is 18 and purchase age limit is 21 for non-Muslims.
In the other Emirates, the drinking and purchase age limits are 21 for non-Muslims.		[verification pending]
United Kingdom18*185[none] *16 for beer, cider, and wine with a meal and bought by and accompanied by an adult. This does not apply in Northern Ireland.Licensing Act 2003 and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005
United States of America21*21*[varies by jurisdiction][varies by jurisdiction]See the NIAAA Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS) for more details
*18 for on-premise and off-premise sales in Puerto Rico (Law 118, 18 October 1984) and the U.S. Virgin Islands		The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 (Title 23 U.S.C. §158)
Uruguay181818[none]Code of Childhood and Adolescence Art 187
Uzbekistan2020[none][none]Law 302 On restriction of Distribution and Taking of Alcohol and Tobacco Products 2011 Art 13-14
Vanuatu18181818Liquor Licensing Act Art 17
Venezuela181818[none]Natural Law for the Protection of Children and Adolescents 5/266 1998
Vietnam1818[none][none]Prime Minister's Decision 2044 QD-TTg: National Policy on Prevention of Harmful Use of Alcoholic Beverages 2014-2020
Yemen[prohibited][prohibited][verification pending]
Zambia1818[none]18Liquor Licensing Act 20/2011
Traditional Beer Act and Regulations
Zimbabwe18*18*18[none]Those below 18 are prohibited to purchase alcohol beverages, but the parent or guardian can consent to sale of alcohol beverages to their child who is under 18 years of age.Liquor Act as amended in 2001

Answer 1 of 26: Hi I saw that a new ruling has come into place that you have to be 21 and over to gamble and enter the casinos in Macau. Is this the rule for foreigners visiting as well or just the locals. Some US states have kept their gambling age limits comparatively low across the board, allowing 18-year-old citizens to partake in nearly all types of gambling. Macau has a long history with.

Economy of Macau
Currency and identity
Resources
Companies
Other Macau topics

Macau Casino Age Limit 2019 Social Security

Gambling in Macau has been legal since the 1850s when the Portuguese government legalised the activity in the autonomous colony. Since then, Macau has become known worldwide as the 'Gambling capital of the world'[1][2] or 'Monte Carlo of the East'.

Gambling tourism is Macau's biggest source of revenue, making up about 50% of the economy. Visitors are made up largely of Chinese nationals from mainland China and Hong Kong. With the entry of large foreign casinos from Las Vegas and Australia, Macau overtook the Las Vegas Strip in gambling revenues in 2007.

Until Western-style casino games were introduced in the 20th century, only Chinese games were played, the most popular being Fan-Tan. Generally, gambling in Macau can be divided into one of four categories: casino games, greyhound racing, sports betting, and lotteries. At the present time, Macau does not license online gambling operations.

Macau, a special administrative region like Hong Kong, is the only place in China where casinos are legal, and the business has grown at an astounding pace since 2001, when the government ended the four-decade gambling monopoly of the Hong Kong billionaire Stanley Ho.

Macau is the pre-eminent gambling capital of the world, grossing the highest amount of gambling/gaming revenue and greatly dwarfing all the other gambling centers/cities.[1][2][3]

History[edit]

Casinos in Macau

In an attempt to generate revenues for the government, gambling in Macau was legalized by the Portuguese government in 1849.[4] In the late 19th century, the government introduced a licensing system for the fantan houses (Chinese gambling houses). It is reported that over 200 gambling houses were required to pay gambling rent to the government.[5] The second casino monopoly concession was granted to the Tai Heng[6] Company in 1937.[7] The company was, however, too conservative to fully exploit the economic potential of gambling.

The industry saw a major breakthrough in 1962 when the government granted the monopoly rights to all forms of gambling to Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau (STDM), a syndicate jointly formed by Hong Kong and Macau businessmen. The STDM introduced western-style games and modernised the marine transport between Macau and Hong Kong, bringing millions of gamblers from Hong Kong every year.[5] The license was extended in 1986 for another 15 years but expired at the end of 2001.

Macau was transferred to the People's Republic of China in 1999 and became a special administrative region of China. During this transition, there were no changes to gambling policy in Macau.[8]

In 2002, the Macau government ended the monopoly system and granted 3 (later 6) casino operating concessions (and subconcessions) to: Sociedade de Jogos de Macau (SJM, an 80% owned subsidiary of STDM), Wynn Resorts, Las Vegas Sands, Galaxy Entertainment Group, the partnership of MGM Mirage and Pansy Ho Chiu-king, and the partnership of Melco and PBL. On 18 May 2004, the Sands Macau casino opened near the Macau Ferry Terminal. Today, there are 16 casinos operated by the STDM, and they are still crucial in the casino industry in Macau.

Economic aspects[edit]

Gold Bars at the Emperor Casino in Macau

The so-called 'Monte Carlo of the Orient', Macau's economy relies heavily on gambling. Nowadays, the gambling industry generates over 40% of the GDP of Macau. Since the early 1960s, around 50% of Macau's official revenue has been driven by gambling. The percentage remained steady until the late 1990s. In 1998, 44.5% of total government revenue was produced by the direct tax on gambling. Then there was a 9.1% decrease in 1999, probably due to internet gaming. After the handover of the Macau from Portugal to China, the SAR released gambling licenses to other companies in order to eliminate the monopoly played by the STDM. In 2002, the government signed concession contracts with two Macau gaming companies, Wynn Resort Ltd. and Galaxy Casino. This opened the gambling market for competition and increased government tax revenue significantly. It also attracted more tourists to Macau. At this moment, according to official statistics, gambling taxes form 70% of Macau's government income.[9]

However, the gambling industry is also a source of instability in the Macau economy, as the nature of gambling business is not susceptible to technological advancement or productivity growth. The gambling business is still dependent on the prosperity of other Asian economies, especially that of China. Due to Xi Jinping's promise on cracking down of corruption across mainland China, casino profits from across Macau have been reporting a decline in monthly profits[10] In addition, a proliferation of other gambling venues in the region is drawing the target demographic away. Macau's 2018 grew 13% over the prior year, but this lagged behind the 41% growth in emerging casino markets in Singapore, South Korea, the Philippines and Australia, according to Fitch Ratings. In 2019 casino earnings reached their lowest level in three years.[11]

Gambling forms[edit]

Casinos[edit]

Macau has 41 casinos (as of 2019), of which the biggest is The Venetian Macao. Twenty-four casinos are located on the Macau Peninsula and 17 on Taipa Island or the Cotai Strip. They all operate under a government franchise and under a common set of rules.

The main casino operators in Macau are SJM Holdings, Galaxy Entertainment and Las Vegas Sands with respective revenues of 9.7, 4.8, and 4.2 billion in 2011.[12]

A wide range of games are available, including roulette, blackjack, baccarat, boule, Sic bo, Fan Tan, keno and slot machines.

Poker was introduced only in August 2007, in an electronic table format at Galaxy Starworld casino. The first live poker tournament was the Asia Pacific Poker Tour Macau event in November 2007. Shortly thereafter, in January 2008, the government of Macau published the official rules for Texas hold 'em poker games in Macau. In February 2008, Grand Lisboa Casino added the first live-dealer cash game tables. In May 2008, 'PokerStars Macau' opened at Grand Waldo Casino. In November 2008, Texas Holdem' Poker opened at Wynn Macau. 'PokerStars Macau' moved to a new location at the Grand Lisboa Casino in March 2009. Today, Wynn Macau, StarWorld, and the Venetian offer live-dealer cash game poker tables.[13] Previously, most casinos were non-smoking. This caused serious discontent from both operators and visitors. In 2019, the Chinese Ministry of Health allowed smoking in special rooms in most casinos. In February 2020, in connection with the spread of coronavirus, after a two-week break in the casino, a restriction was introduced.

Casino Lights in Macau
Casino
List of Casinos in Macau
NameOpening HoursSizeSpecial Features
Casino Lisboa24 hours107 slots and 146 table games (190,000 sq ft)Hotel with 1,000 rooms and 6 restaurants
Casa Real Casino24 hours123 slots and 53 table games (36,000 sq ft)Hotel with 381 rooms and 2 restaurants
Grandview Casino24 hours51 table gamesHotel with 407 rooms and 2 restaurants
Casino Macau Palace24 hours51 slots and 12 table games (11,120 sq ft)None
Altira Macau24 hours550 slots and 220 table gamesHotel with 216 VIP rooms
Jai Alai Casino24 hours208 slots and 61+ table games, 4 VIP rooms (67,075 sq ft)None
Kam Pek Casino24 hours71 slots and 24 table games; 4 VIP rooms (34,320 sq ft)None
Kingsway Hotel & Casino12:00 – 04:0020 slots and 8 table games (11,755 sq ft)Hotel with 410 rooms
Grand Lapa Macau12:00 – 04:0059 slots and 11 table games (12,140 sq ft)Hotel with 437 rooms and 6 restaurants
Mocha Clubs24 hours1000 slots (number of tables unknown)None
New Century Hotel & Casino24 hours19 table gamesHotel with 554 rooms
The Legend Club24 hours108 slots and 12 table games; 1 VIP room (15,000 sq ft)None
Sands Macao24 hours405 slots and 270 gaming tables (165,000 sq ft)51 suite VIP hotel
Golden Dragon Casino24 hours137 slots, 123 gaming machines and 85 gaming tables, 15 VIP rooms483 deluxe guest rooms including 84 harbour view rooms and 45 signature suites
Greek Mythology Casino24 hours228 tables (to be upgraded to 500), 100 slot machines (160,000 sq ft)554 rooms at the New Century Hotel
MGM Macau24 hours345 gaming tables and 1035 slot machines600-room hotel
Wynn Macau24 hours375 slot machines and 212 gaming tables (246,000 sq ft)Integrated resort with 600 rooms and restaurants
The Venetian Macao, Cotai Strip24 hours3400 slot machines and 800 gaming tables (550,000 square feet of casino space)Integrated resort with 3000 suites, convention and retail space
Babylon Casino – Fisherman's Wharf11:00 – 23:00
Casino Crystal Palace at Hotel Lisboa36 tables (14,100 sq ft)Makccarat tables
Diamond Casino at Holiday Inn6 + 1 VIP Room, 32 slot machines (6,900 sq ft)
Emperor Palace Casino64 gaming table on 3 floors of casino concourse & 8 VIP Halls, 365 slot machines
Fortuna Casino24 hours35 gaming tables
Galaxy Rio Casino80 tables, 150 slots, 4 VIP rooms450 rooms, 65 suites
Galaxy Starworld24 Hours300 tables, 371 slotsStarWorld Hotel
Galaxy Waldo Hotel and Casino24 Hours63 tables, 8 VIP rooms, 100 slots161 rooms
Pharaoh's Palace Casino24 Hours109 tables 5 VIP rooms, 383 slots (9000 sq ft)3 Presidential suites, 448 Rooms and Suites at The Landmark
Ponte 1624 Hours150 tables, 5 VIP halls and 20 rooms
Casino Marina at Taipa20 tables, 4 VIP rooms, 37 slots 45,900312 rooms and suites at Marina Hotel
Crown Casino, Taipa – u/c220 (80 VIP), 183,000 sq ft (17,000 m2) gaming space 500 slots
MJC Casino, Taipa19 tables, 2 VIP rooms, 15,800 sq ft (1,470 m2)3 Deluxe Rooms and 22 Junior Suites and 1 Presidential Suite and 352 Standard Rooms and 26 Suites
City of Dreams24 Hours420,000-square-foot (39,000 m2) gaming floor containing 550 gaming tables and 1500 machines; 85,000 square feet (7,900 m2) of retail space; Theatre of Dreams (1,700 seaters)366-room Hard Rock Hotel and 290 suites Crown Towers Hotel, Cotai. Grand Hyatt Macau (971 rooms).
Galaxy Cotai Mega Resort, Cotai450 tables, 1000 slot2000 hotel rooms, 50 restaurants, an artificial beach, a wave pool
Galaxy Grand Waldo, Cotai168 tables, 25 machines, 350 slots (120000 sq ft)
Casino Oceanus24 hours32,000 m2 on 3 floors containing 269 gaming tables and 569 machines[14]special facade, closest casino to the ferry terminal directly connected by a pedestrian bridge

Macau Casino Age Limit 2019 20



Location of the Race-course and the Canidrome

Horse racing[edit]

Other than casinos, there is betting at the Macau Jockey Club and the dog-racing Canidrome.

Macau Casino Age Limit 2019 Irs

Horse-racing mainly takes place every Tuesday and Saturday or Sunday at the race-course on the Taipa Island of Macau. The race-course has an area of 450,000 square metres and 18,000 seats for gamblers, and is open only for people over 18 years of age.

The Macau Jockey Club was formerly the Macau Trotting Club. In 1991, it was acquired by a consortium led by Stanley Ho. The Macau Jockey Club is one of the largest private employers of Macau with around 1,400 employees and around 1,100 part-timers.

Some statistics for horse racing in Macau
YearNumber of Visitorsoverall betting turnover
89/90268,561462,642,000
90/91305,957637,308,000
91/92349,845979,940,000
92/93353,7301,296,616,000
93/94324,9531,296,133,000
94/95367,1851,521,334,000
95/96376,4872,285,331,000
96/97352,4402,635,168,000
97/98369,9573,421,173,000
98/99325,4443,576,040,000
99/00306,3193,567,430,000
00/01284,5694,019,742,000
01/02330,2983,263,321,000
02/03308,1683,297,540,000
Ways of betting
  • On-course betting

There are over 210 betting terminals 'on-course'. All terminals can perform sell and pay functions. Punters may bet in Hong Kong dollars or Macau patacas. Bets are accepted up to the start of each race. Punters may place a bet by oral instructions or by filling a ticket.

  • Off-course betting

There are over 80 betting terminals in the Off-Course Betting Centres. 14 Off-course Betting Centres are located in popular districts of Macau and Taipa.

  • Internet betting

The Internet betting service commenced on 20 September 2003. Customers can review the Club's internet betting website at www.macauhorsebet.com.

  • Telephone services

There are over 600 telephone service terminals and a total of over 38,000 telebet accounts. The winning dividend of account holders may at their instructions be automatically transferred to their bank accounts.

  • Fast Access Terminals (FAT)

Launched in June 1997, the personal betting terminal, FAT (Fast Access Terminal) offers betting, calculation of bet units, record tracking of bets, account enquiry, withdrawal instructions and other related information on races such as declaration and race-odds. Close to 1,000 customers are currently using FAT.

  • Hong Kong Service Centres

Three service centres are now set up in Hong Kong including Shaukeiwan Service Centre, Sheung Wan Service Centre and Mongkok Service Centre.

Greyhound racing[edit]

Greyhound racing takes place at the Canidrome on Avenida General Castelo Branco. These races are held on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and weekends starting from 7:45 pm and there are 16 games on every racing evenings. Admission is MOP$10 (usable for betting) for the public stand.

Players can bet inside the greyhound racing centre, or in off-course betting centres located in the Hotel Lisboa, Jai-Alai Palace and Kam Pek Casino.

Gambling and society[edit]

The casino industry is viewed by some as harmful to society. A high crime rate was one of the biggest problems that Macau's colonial Portuguese government had to face. Since Macau's return to China's rule in 1999, the public security situation has markedly improved. With the growth of the casino industry, a business called 'bate-ficha' was developed and it is usually run by different triad societies. The bate-ficha business is an element of triad involvement in Macau's gambling industry. Bate-ficha involves selling customers 'dead chips' that cannot be exchanged for cash in the casinos, but only by bate-ficha men or women, who are officially known as 'gaming promoters' or 'middlemen' for a commission.

Triad involvement in Macau casinos makes a serious social impact on the local area. It attracts the attention of Chinese gangsters, whose deadly battles over the fortunes to be made from racketeering and extortion in the territory are a continuing problem. As different triad societies compete for controlled territory in the casinos and on the streets, disputes between societies occur from time to time. These are often settled in violent ways. Even worse, triad societies have grown so powerful in Macau that there was a trend that people tried to seek help from these societies rather than from the police. Although the situation has improved since the 1999 handover to China, the problem is still entrenched in the local area.

Gaming law[edit]

No one under the age of 21 is allowed to gamble.

Detailed law is enforced in Macau to ensure 'qualified operation of gambling' in Macau. The details are listed in Law 16/2001 (regime jurídico da exploração de jogos de fortuna ou azar em casino), and other laws regulating the activity of gaming promoters and credit for gaming.

The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (known as DICJ) is the main government unit that oversees the operation of different gaming activities.

Under Macau law, it stated that a permit issued by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau is required for the operation of lotteries sales, lucky draw or similar activities, and the initial procedure in the application on the operation of lotteries sales, lucky draw, or similar activities is to submit a notification to the relevant government department ten days prior to the application.

In the Macau legal system, gaming law is not considered as a branch of law in the traditional sense. Instead, it may be considered as a transversal gathering of a range of legal topics more or less directly related to gaming, including constitutional law, administrative law, tax law, company law, contract law, and criminal law. In this manner, issues of public law as well as private law are of relevance for gaming.

Tax law issues[edit]

The taxation of casino sub/concessionaires is made of a fixed part and a variable part. The variable part falls on the gross gaming revenue. The tax rate is currently of 35%, plus two contributions of up to 2% and 3% for social and economic purposes. The maximum tax is therefore 40%. In addition, a fixed premium is also payable, plus a premium per VIP table, other table, and slot machine. Gaming promoters pay taxes on commissions received.

Contract law issues[edit]

From the perspective of contract law, gaming and betting are contracts which may or may not generate civil or natural obligations for the parties. The matter is regulated in the Civil Code 1999 (art. 1171), which states, drawing from Roman law, that gaming and betting generate natural obligations except in sports competitions and where the law provides otherwise. The problem is that gaming legislation currently does not provide to this effect.

Regarding credit for gaming, Macau law states since 2004 that the granting of credit for casino games of fortune generates civil obligations, which are fully enforceable in Macau courts. Credit for casino games of fortune is defined as any case where chips are passed on to a player without immediate cash payment of such chips; this is an intentionally broad concept. Credit for gaming is regulated by Law no. 5/2004, of 14 June.

Criminal law issues[edit]

From the perspective of criminal law, there are specific criminal offences related to gaming; see Law 8/96/M, of 22 July, and Law 9/96/M, of 22 July. Other criminal law matters are covered by broader laws: the Penal Code and the law on Organized crime. Game cheating is mentioned in art. 6 of Law 8/96/M, of 22 July. In addition, general laws on the prevention and repression of money laundering and the financing of terrorism through casinos apply.

Problem gambling[edit]

Macau Casino Age 2019

As of November 2011, exclusion of players from gambling establishments is voluntary. If the person realises that their gambling activities begin to cause trouble, they can turn to the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau to ban them from entering the casino. The government of Macau is seeking the opinions of the citizens on the possibility of establishing a programme that will allow excluding problem gamblers from all casinos without their consent. The Legislative Assembly is currently[when?] analyzing the new draft law, which also deals with the problem of exclusion from gambling houses. The law suggests that the person can be excluded from the casino if they submit their own request or approve the request submitted by their relatives.[15]

Other matters[edit]

Competition law matters, and advertising law, as well as the impact of WTO law on gaming, may also be pointed out as part of gaming law. Regarding online gaming, the Macau SAR does not currently grant concessions for online casinos. The current casino concessions only cover land-based gaming, not online gaming.

Academic research and teaching[edit]

The teaching of Macau gaming law started in 2005 the Faculty of Business Administration of the University of Macau, in the undergraduate program of gaming management.Since 2007 it is also included in the master program of international business law offered by the Faculty of Law of the University of Macau [1], in which various theses have already been defended in topics of gaming law.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ abBranigan, Tania (11 May 2011). 'Macau – gaming capital of the world'. The Guardian.
  2. ^ ab'Macau: The world's gambling capital'. BBC News.
  3. ^Riley, Charles (6 January 2014). 'Macau's gambling industry is now 7 times bigger than Vegas'. CNNMoney.
  4. ^Godinho, Jorge (2012) 'A history of games of chance in Macau, Part 1 : Introduction', in Gaming Law Review and Economics, Vol. 16, no. 10, p. 552-556, and (2013) 'Part 2 : The foundation of the Macau gaming industry », Gaming Law Review and Economics, Vol. 17, no. 2, p. 107-116.
  5. ^ abChan, S. S. (2000). The Macau Economy. Macau: Publications Centre, University of Macau. ISBN99937-26-03-6.
  6. ^'Macau Gaming Summary'. UNLV Center for Gaming Research. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  7. ^Macau Yearbook 2007. Government Information Bureau of the Macau SAR. 2007. ISBN978-99937-56-09-5.
  8. ^'All you need to know, Macau Hotel'. Gambling Info. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  9. ^Bloomberg, Macau Casinos Top Las Vegas as Adelson, Wynn, Battle Stanley Ho, 1 March 2007
  10. ^'Macau Gambling decline'. Yahoo Finance. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  11. ^Ese Erheriene (7 May 2019). 'Casino Boom in Asia Pressures Vegas Operators: Regions new venues aim to draw gamblers beyond Macau, U.S. giants' longtime hub'. The Wall Street Journal. p. B5.
  12. ^'Main casino operators in Macau'. Travel & Gamble Online Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 June 2017.
  13. ^'Best Poker Rooms in Macau – Macau Poker Updated Jan 2014'.
  14. ^video on www.oceanus.asiaArchived 1 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^Macau Daily Times: Gov't considers ban on problem gamblers

Further reading[edit]

Macau Casino Age Limit 2019 2020

  • Jorge Godinho, 'Casino Gaming in Macau: Evolution, Regulation and Challenges', in UNLV Gaming Law Journal, vol. 5(1), 2014, pp. 1 ff. [2]
  • Jorge Godinho, 'A History of Games of Chance in Macau: Part 1 – Introduction', in Gaming Law Review and Economics, vol. 16(10), October 2012, pp. 552 ff. [3]
  • Jorge Godinho, Macau Business Law and Legal System, LexisNexis, Hong Kong, 2007 (ISBN9789628937271) [4]
  • Governo de Macau, O Jogo em Macau, 1985.
  • Angela Leong, 'The 'bate-ficha' business and triads in Macau casinos', QUEENSLAND U. OF TECH. L. & JUST., 84 (2002)
  • Metaxas Theodore and Folinas Sotiris (2016) 'Gambling Tourism and Economic Development: Some lessons from Macao,' MPRA Paper 72397, University Library of Munich, Germany.

External links[edit]

  • Media related to Gambling in Macau at Wikimedia Commons
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gambling_in_Macau&oldid=993108545'