Macau’s last remaining satellite casino, Landmark Casino, ceased operations on 1 January, closing a chapter of the city’s gaming industry.
Macau’s last remaining satellite casino, Landmark Casino, ceased operations at midnight on 1 January, marking the end of a distinct chapter in the city’s gaming industry.
The closure followed the expiry of a three-year transitional period established under Law 7/2022, which amended the legal framework governing casino games of fortune and set a definitive deadline for the future of satellite casinos.
Under the revised legislation, satellite casinos were required to either restructure their operating models or exit the market by 31 December 2025.
In response, the three gaming concessionaires that owned the remaining satellite properties opted to terminate all related operations ahead of the deadline, citing commercial considerations.
The decision affected 11 venues previously operating under satellite arrangements, including several long-standing properties managed by SJM Resorts, Melco Resorts and Galaxy Entertainment.
Casino Grandview was the first to shut down, closing permanently as a gambling venue on 30 July 2025, while the remaining properties followed in stages through the end of the year.
Landmark Casino’s closure was the final step in this process, leaving Macau without any operational satellite casinos for the first time in decades.
Macau casino revenue on the up
The move reflects a broader regulatory paradigm shift toward fully integrated casino operations directly owned and managed by licensed concessionaires.
The affected concessionaires committed to the Macao SAR Government that all displaced employees would be properly settled.
The Labour Affairs Bureau has stated it will closely monitor employment arrangements to ensure workers’ rights and interests are safeguarded.
Authorities have also indicated they will assess any wider economic or social impacts arising from the closures and take appropriate measures where necessary.
These regulatory changes coincided with a strong financial year for Macau’s gaming sector. Gross gaming revenue for 2025 reached MOP247.40bn (around €26.3bn), representing a 9.1% year-on-year increase and surpassing the government’s full-year target.
December revenue totalled MOP20.89bn, up 14.8% from the same month a year earlier, making it the strongest December performance since the Covid-19 pandemic despite a slight month-on-month decline linked to seasonal factors.
Tourism growth provided a salient boost to year-end results. During the nine-day holiday period from 20 to 28 December, inbound visitors totalled 1.14 million, with cross-border movements reaching 6.25 million.
By 27 December, cumulative arrivals had exceeded 39.4 million, allowing Macau to surpass its pre-pandemic tourism record from 2019.