Published
Land-BasedCasinoFinancialIndustry

Wilfred Wong: Macau “cannot just rely on gaming”

Sands China’s President and Executive Director, Wilfred Wong, has echoed earlier calls by the Chinese Government to diversify the gambling province of Macau.

wilfred wong macau
Listen To Article

During a speech Wong gave to the British Chamber of Commerce in Macau, he told the audience that the six concessionaires “cannot just rely on gaming, because this is not healthy.”

Wong highlighted the need to attract more international visitors to Macau than just the gambling community. Over the next decade, the six concessionaires pledged as part of the licensing process to invest over MOP$20bn (US$14.8bn) into the region, which Wong said a significant portion of would go towards ‘non-gaming projects.’

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Macau has been hit hard by the implementation of several lockdowns, as much of the income from the casinos has dried up due to the drastic fall in international travel.

As a result, the reliance of Macau on gaming tourism was “fully exposed,” according to Macau CEO Ho Iat Seng in a statement he made in 2020.

Since then, the Chinese Government has intervened and pushed the province to be less reliant on gaming tourism, as Macau finally eases out of the Zero-Covid policy that crippled the business there for almost three years.

During his speech, Wong said that Sand China was heading in “the direction that the Government wants us to go in,” further adding that it would help Macau become a world tourism and leisure centre.

The move for diversification comes after other Asian destinations – such as Singapore – took significant portions of Macau’s gaming business, which had the benefit of casinos and other tourist attractions.


Asia News Sponsor
Premium+ Connections
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium
 
Premium Connections
Consultancy
Executive Profiles
Scientific Games
Esportes Gaming Brasil
LeoVegas
Kalshi
Follow Us

Taking stock: Counting on crypto

Gambling Insider tracks the value of the biggest cryptocurre...

In focus: MiFinity

A trusted payments partner for the iGaming industry....

Panel: LatAm and crypto lead the way

During the SBC Summit Americas in Florida, executives from N...

In focus: Spayz.io

Payments that actually work for iGaming operators…...

A welcome from your host

A message from the Founder of the Global Gaming Awards and G...

From the Lead Partner

A message from BetConstruct - Lead Partner of the Global Gam...

The year in review

The Event Manager of the Global Gaming Awards reviews the mo...

Casino Operator of the Year 2025

We present to you the 2025 Shortlist for the Casino Operator...