Zona de Azar China – Macau Survey: 85% of Former Junket Staff Remain Unemployed

China.- April 28th 2022  www.zonadeazar.com A survey undertaken by Macau’s Integrated Service Centre has revealed that 85% of former junket employees remain unemployed, following the closure of many junket-run VIP rooms by the end of 2021.

Recent reforms announced by the Macanese Government have all but ended the prospect of junkets remaining in operation in the mid-to-long term future. The Second Standing Committee of Macau’s Legislative Assembly has decided to remove the operating rights of junkets under private property licensed to concessionaires.

These measures are likely to be introduced within two or three years and have meant that many junkets – already struggling as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic – have ceased operations.

The alleged corruptibility of junket CEOs has not helped matters; Suncity’s Alvin Chau was arrested for tax evasion in a high-profile case, as was Tak Chun Group boss Levo Chan Weng Lin.

Pak Kin Pong, a supervisor at the Service Centre, said: “The employment situation for these former workers is dire. The turmoil in the junket segment has started since the end of last year, and this means they have stayed unemployed for at least four months.”

The figures support his claim; even those former junket workers who have found new employment have seen their monthly earnings slashed significantly.

The survey, as reported by the Macau News Agency, polled 309 former Macanese staff, all of whom had either been sacked or resigned from their job in the past 12 months.

A significant 50% of junket employees participating in the survey were former employees at the Chau-headed Suncity Group, while 18% worked for Tak Gun Group and 12% for Guangdong Group.

Just 8% of survey participants found a job outside of the gaming industry, while 4% moved to another gaming entity or rival junket. In total, 2% started up their own business, while the remaining survey participants currently have no intention to return to employment.

Edited by: @MaiaDigital www.zonadeazar.com