Macau's Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau has affirmed that Grand Dragon Casino, located in Taipa, officially stopped its operations on a Tuesday, specifically on September 23rd. The anticipation of this closure had previously been set out by Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd, the provider of the property's gaming license, who released an announcement about it on the Friday prior. This strategic move to shutter the facility, alongside three small-scale slot parlours that also utilized the license from Melco Resorts, had its communication in the public sphere as early as June.
This signifies a pointed shift in how Macau will handle its gaming venues under the satellite system model. The current satellite system enabled external investors to partner with gaming license holders and accumulate a portion of the gaming revenues. However, from 2026, the operation of these satellite models will face a complete phase-out, changing the landscape for such investment opportunities in Macau's gaming industry.
Impact on Macau's Satellite Casinos
The Grand Dragon Casino was not the first, but indeed the second satellite casino in Macau to cease operations within a tight timeframe of fewer than two months. Prior to Grand Dragon's closure, Casino Grandview, another venue located in Taipa, had already stopped its business in late July. Casino Grandview had conducted its operations under the gaming rights associated with SJM Holdings Ltd, another notable casino operator in Macau. These closures signal a potential transformation within Macau's gaming sector.
With the satellite model coming to an end by 2026, a shift in operational protocols and business models is anticipated as the territory seeks to align with new regulatory frameworks. This evolution in how gaming operations are conducted could lead to a re-concentration of gaming venues towards those directly owned by major operators like SJM Holdings and Melco Resorts.
Orderly Transition Ensured by Authorities
In ensuring the closure of the Grand Dragon Casino was conducted effectively, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau underscored that the process followed "established procedures." Their official statement emphasized the closure was facilitated through close coordination with various governmental departments, ensuring all legal benchmarks were upheld. The transition was cited to have followed an "orderly manner." As Grand Dragon Casino's operations came to a close right after its last day of business at precisely 11:59 pm on the preceding Monday, the regulator executed an immediate suspension of gaming table activity at the site, alongside performing all necessary formalities related to the shutdown.
Melco Resorts had already made future arrangements concerning Grand Dragon's gaming assets. The gaming tables that once brought the hustle and bustle to the Grand Dragon Casino are planned to be transferred and reallocated to Melco's flagship City of Dreams complex, a pivotal venue in Macau's Cotai district, signifying a consolidation of gaming resources under Melco's direct oversight.
Source: Macau regulator confirms 'orderly' end to business at satellite venue Grand Dragon Casino, GGRAsia, September 23, 2025.
Posted by Wizard
Sep 24 2025
Sep 24 2025
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