Macau's casino landscape is set to undergo significant changes as two prominent satellite casinos are scheduled to cease operations at the end of October. The Casino Emperor Palace and Waldo Casino, long-standing fixtures in Macau's gambling industry, are the latest establishments to face closure. According to recent announcements by their respective licence holders, SJM Resorts Ltd and Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd, these closures are part of broader strategic and regulatory shifts within the region's gaming sector.
Impact and Transition Plans for Casino Emperor Palace
Casino Emperor Palace, prominently situated at the Grand Emperor Hotel in Macau's bustling central business district, will officially halt its gaming activities at precisely 11.59pm on Thursday, October 30. This development was formally confirmed through Monday filings by both SJM Holdings Ltd, which houses the casino group's listed business, and Emperor Entertainment Hotel Ltd, the controlling entity of the Grand Emperor Hotel. Beyond the cessation of gaming operations, Emperor Entertainment Hotel Ltd emphasized its continued commitment to its hospitality ventures at the Grand Emperor site, ensuring that the hotel's non-gaming sectors will remain active.
In preparation for the transition, SJM Resorts has outlined specific plans for managing resources and clientele. All gaming tables and equipment currently at Casino Emperor Palace will be strategically redeployed to other casinos within the SJM Resorts' network, aiming to maintain service quality for patrons. SJM Resorts also reassured its customers that their existing gaming tokens, deposits, and any accumulated cash rebates will be honored.
Patrons are invited to redeem these at other SJM-operated establishments starting October 31, 2025, reflecting the company's dedication to "ensure that all customer entitlements are duly honoured." Employees at Casino Emperor Palace have been provided with secure pathways for reassignment across other SJM venues, according to the company's statement, safeguarding local employment and ensuring a seamless transition for the affected workforce.
Waldo Casino Closure and Broader Industry Repercussions
Waldo Casino, located within the Waldo Hotel near Macau's Outer Harbour, is set to conclude its gaming operations on Friday, October 31. In the lead-up to this closure, observations from a GGRAsia check-in on October 13 revealed that electronic table game zones spanning several floors had already stopped receiving guests, leaving a limited number of live-dealer baccarat tables available on the main floor. This closure narrows the landscape of Macau's satellite casinos down to seven, all of which hold licenses under the SJM Resorts umbrella.
Notably, SJM intends to integrate the casino operations at Ponte 16 and L’Arc Macau directly into its core business, marking a strategic shift. Galaxy Entertainment Group reassured stakeholders by confirming that all gaming assets from Waldo Casino have been approved for reallocation to other casinos by the local regulatory body, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ). Furthermore, the organization pledged that Waldo's team members will be reassigned to suitable positions within Galaxy's broader operation, thus upholding existing employment terms and conditions.
The DICJ will supervise the entire cessation process at both Casino Emperor Palace and Waldo Casino, ensuring compliance with the commitments made to employees and patrons. This includes safe management of gaming assets and honoring customer commitments, such as allowing valid Galaxy Waldo chips to be redeemed at designated facilities beyond the closure date.
Source: Two Macau satellite casinos to shut by end of this week, GGRAsia, October 27, 2025.
Posted by Wizard
Oct 29 2025
Oct 29 2025
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