The Macau government is likely to extend casino concessions for three more years until 2025, investment bank Morgan Stanley said.
Although it was previously announced the government was planning to hold open bidding for gaming licenses in June 2022, the bidding might be pushed back due to challenges presented by COVID-19, News Opener reports.
Casino concessions for SJM and MGM China were previously extended by 2 years in 2019, the extension cost each casino $25m as compensation for the government. The extensions can go up to 5 years in total; currently, the concessions are granted to six casinos: SJM, MGM China, Galaxy Entertainment, Sands China, Wynn Macau, and Melco.
Macau wants to revise its gaming law by 2021, which would mean new licenses will be given out according to renewed rules. But this schedule might face delays because the government will hold a public consultation process.
Analysts at Morgan Stanley said: "For open bidding to happen, Macau has to run a public consultation (earlier planned for the second half of 2020), and then put the new law in the Legislative Assembly (the draft is not ready yet), which could take more than a year."
It is likely the confirmation of government plans will take place in 2021: "Similar to March 2019 (a year before SJM/MGM’s licenses expired), we expect this decision to be taken by June 2021 – a year before the expiry date in June 2022."
https://www.yogonet.com/international/noticias/2020/12/16/55797-macau-govt-likely-to-extend-casino-concessions-to-2025