Macau is amid a renaissance after China President Xi Jinping forced out the junket groups that made the casino enclave the richest gambling market in the world before the COVID-19 pandemic.
With junket groups and the mainland VIP players that the touring companies brought to town no more — and Macau ordering its six casino operators to collectively invest $13.5 billion into nongaming projects during the life of their recently issued 10-years concession extensions- the Chinese Special Administrative Region is laboring to find its new identity.
Gambling will continue to reign supreme, as the multibillion-dollar integrated casino resorts aren’t going anywhere. But the companies that own such lavish properties are developing ways to keep their rooms occupied and gaming floors busy in the post-junket era.