Macau’s gaming results, which we publish in monthly tables showing the market-share fluctuations of the competing operators, must be transparent and comprehensive. There can be no room for contiued excuses from the government or the casino bosses, for vague or missing information.
Our city has reinforced its position as the world’s gaming capital over a year in which the global economy was seriously damaged and other markets – namely Las Vegas – suffered badly.
Apparently, the sky is still the limit and there is room to grow. But, for that to happen, gaming concessionaires must not forget their responsibilities to Macau.
We have to be quite clear: anyone who is in Macau simply to take advantage of the market and its people, without seriously contributing to the city’s growth – as well as its wider society – deserves no more incentives, and should be severely punished.
We must impose strict limitations for companies – including those based in Hong Kong but declaring themselves to be local – which continue to protect their operational balances and their shareholders, to the detriment of a society which provides what they could only dream of in their home markets.
At the same time, the Macau Government has a responsibility to rapidly improve on its biggest weakness over the past 10 years: lack of planning.
We won’t get there with inconsequential and ill thought out studies. We need a team with the vision to understand that a global plan is required, with all the infra-structure and services we need working together.
We also need someone with courage and determination to demand responsibility from members of the current administration, which cannot continue to react slowly just because they believe their jobs are for life.
The same attributes need to be demanded of social agents – namely the gaming operators – and that they keep their promises.
Macau must become an entertainment hub, instead of sinking further into pure, hard gaming.
In order for that to happen, strategies must be re-drawn and recovery plans resurrected. Investments need to be made in a deliberate and coordinated fashion.
Either through incompetence or negligence, the government seems to have forgotten all about this, judging by the fact that it is normal for more than half the annual investment budget not to be spent.
Macau has all the conditions to show that it has learned its lesson well and that the usual image of a city that risks nothing and dares nothing is behind us.
More than ever before, we have the higher ground and to lose it would be to completely betray a destiny that we were delivered, whether we deserved it or not.

by Paulo A. Azevedo