Melco Resorts will close two gaming venues in Macau this month as part of the territory's transition away from satellite casinos.
Grand Dragon Casino will cease operations at 11:59pm on 22 September, followed by the Mocha Kuong Fat slot parlour on 24 September.
The closures fall under Article 7 of Law No. 7/2022, which introduced a three-year transitional period requiring satellite casinos - venues operating in properties not owned by concessionaires - to either comply with new ownership rules or exit the market by the end of 2025.
Macau's Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau will deploy personnel on-site to oversee the closure procedures, ensuring compliance with Melco's approved exit plan. This includes handling cash and chips in gaming cages, unredeemed vouchers, slot machine jackpots and outstanding tokens.
The regulator confirmed that all 176 employees at Casino Grand Dragon and 36 staff at Mocha Kuong Fat are directly employed by Melco. The company will work with the Labour Affairs Bureau to ensure affected workers are properly redeployed or compensated according to previously submitted commitments.
These closures form part of a broader industry transition. In June, the Macau Government confirmed that all 11 remaining satellite casinos operated by SJM Resorts, Melco Resorts and Galaxy Entertainment would close by year-end, affecting approximately 5,600 local workers who will be reallocated across the concessionaires' portfolios.
Melco had previously announced in June that Grand Dragon Casino and three Mocha venues would cease operations before 2025's end, while seeking government approval for three other Mocha locations to continue operating beyond December 2025.
Macau revenue is going strong but a typhoon closure can cost the region valuable GGR, especially if for a prolonged period
