Macau casino operators have been quietly lobbying for some kind of break on their 35% tax on gambling revenue (plus an additional 4% in ‘contributions’ to social causes) to allow them to. The legal age for gambling in Macau is 21. Does Macau Tax Gambling Winnings? Macau tax laws allow for gambling winnings to go untaxed. It’s a different story for operators who pay about 40% of gross gaming revenues to the taxman.

“Responsible Gambling”

For most people, gaming is merely a form of leisure entertainment, and the activity is supposed to be enjoyable within an affordable amount of wager; but for some people, gaming affects their lives negatively, and may even turn them into problem gamblers (which include compulsive gambling and pathological gambling behaviors). In the long-run, it is necessary to minimize the damages inflicted on players and the community derives from gaming activities. Thus the promotion of the concept of Responsible Gaming can enhance the public awareness to the gaming information, and guide them to make informed choices according to their personal preferences, reducing the adversity cause by gaming, and is beneficial for the development of the gaming industry.

As the gaming industry in Macao develops, with the expansion on the availability of gaming facilities, the general pattern of the Macao residents’ participation in gaming has shifted accordingly in recent years. According to the “Macao Resident Participation in Gaming Activities Survey” conducted by Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming, University of Macau in year 2003 and 2007, showed the prevalence of Problem Gambling had risen from 4.3% to 6%, and the results reflected that Problem Gambling is already sprawling into the local communities.

In order to minimize the negative impact cause by the gaming industry, the Gaming Inspection & Coordination Bureau and the relevant government departments, act according to their own functions, maintain close contact with the gaming concessionaires and civic organizations, to initiate works together in preventing gaming clients from becoming problem gamblers and to help problem gamblers returning to normal social life and work. In advertisements and educations, since year 2009, the Gaming Inspection & Coordination Bureau, the Social Welfare Bureau and the Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming of University of Macau hold the “Responsible Gambling Awareness Week” every year, to inform the public and the gaming sector employees on the damages that can be inflicted by gaming addictions, and to assist the gaming participants in constructing a righteous attitude towards gaming. Also, to betterment the coordination on advertisements and educations, the Macao SAR government gathered the representatives and scholars from Gaming Inspection & Coordination Bureau, the Social Welfare Bureau, the Education and Youth Bureau, the University of Macao and the Macao Polytechnic Institute, in forming the interdepartmental “Responsible Gaming Work Preparation Unit” and planning together the responsible gaming policies and the general execution measures.

What is “Responsible Gambling”?

According to the precise definition given by the Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming, University of Macau, “Responsible gambling occurs in a properly regulated environment where one’s involvement in gambling activities brings no harm to the gambler, family members, friends, other gamblers, or casino staff; nor would it lead to negative consequences for the local community and residents. In other words, Responsible Gambling is a practice that confines the gabling-related damage to a socially acceptable level”.

To achieve this goal, the government, the players and their families and friends, gaming operators, problem gambling prevention and treatment centers, educational institutions, and other communities, must cooperate together, to ensure the players’ decisions on gaming are made under the circumstances of their own consciousness, and also that their participation in gaming are done responsibly to themselves, their families, friends, and to the society.

Problem Gambling Prevention and Treatment Centers

Prevention and treatment centers are public institutions that provide preventative and treatment services to problem gamblers. If you, your family, or friends are in need, the following institutes can offer help.

1. Problem Gambling Treatment Centers

2. Problem Gambling Preventative Centers

Responsible Gambling Promotional Activities

To demonstrate the rightful knowledge of the “Responsible Gambling” concept to the public, Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau cooperates with Social Welfare Bureau and The Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming of University of Macao to host the responsible gaming activities, and also co-hosts with the Civic and Municipal Affair Bureau and Macao gaming enterprises. The hosting unit through the organizing of series of promotional activities, to promote the “Responsible Gambling” and “Problem Gambling Prevention” information for the local Macao residents and tourists. After four years of uninterrupted promotion, Macao resident recognition to the term “Responsible Gambling” has gradually risen from 23.7% in 2009 to 58.2% in 2012, and the result is obvious.

“Responsible Gambling Awareness Week 2009”

In 2009, Gaming Inspection & Coordination Bureau co-hosted the “Responsible Gambling Awareness Week” with Social Welfare Bureau and the Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming of University of Macau for the first time; a series of promotional activities were carried out from October 15^th to December 31^st.

Beside the invitation of the six local games of fortune operators to participate, the event also invited local problem gambling prevention and treatment centers, social service department of Gabinete Coordenador dos Serviços Sociais Sheng Kung Hui, Industrial Evangelistic Fellowship of Macau, Yat On Centre, Macao Catholic Family Advisory Council, Macao New Chinese Youth Association, Macao Federation of Trade Unions, Young Men’s Christian Association of Macau, Assoicação de Juventude Voluntária de Macau, and Bosco Youth Service Network to participate as co-hosts.

The purpose of the event is to promote the proper concept of Responsible Gaming to the general public, gaming operators, problem gambling prevention and treatment centers, and social communities, and also, to introduce the roles and duties of government departments, gaming operators, prevention and treatment centers, educational institutes and the players themselves, under the concept of Responsible Gaming.

The Main Activities included:

1. Though the use of billboards to advertise the concepts of Responsible Gaming and demonstrated these advertisements in local educational institutions, gaming enterprises, and other public spaces. Local problem gambling treatment and preventative centers were invited for the billboards posting activities; other promotional activities included advertisements on public transportations, in theaters and though television broadcasting, in casinos and employees rest areas, and also inside hotels etc.

2. Hosted the “Responsible Gambling Symposium: People, Practice and Policy”. Participants included scholars and professionals from Canada, United Kingdom, Beijing, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Macao.

3. Responsible Gambling Awareness Survey. The purpose is to study local residents and tourists’ awareness of Responsible Gambling on a continuous basis.

“Responsible Gambling Awareness Week 2010”

In 2010, Gaming Inspection & Coordination Bureau co-organized with Social Welfare Bureau and the Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming of University of Macau again, on Responsible Gaming promotion activities; from the 21^st of August to the 31^st of December, a series of activities were hosted for the “Responsible Gambling Awareness Week 2010”. The local gaming operators and the problem gambling treatment and preventative centers in Macao continued to participate as co-hosting institutions. The activities were themed as “Responsible Gambling Behavior”, and aimed with the purpose of progressively strengthening the senses and behaviors of responsible gaming among the local citizens and tourists.

The Main Activities included:

1. Though the posting on billboards to demonstrate of the eight perspectives of Responsible Gaming, including “Understanding the risk of Gambling”, “No ‘Way’ to Predict the result”, “The longer one gambles, the more one losses”, “Small bet is fun”, “Never borrow to gamble”, “Set a time limit when gambling”, “Don’t gamble when you are drunk” and “Seek help proactively”, in local educational institutions, in gaming facilities, and in other public spaces Macao’s problem gambling treatment and preventative centers were invited to participate in the billboard posting activities; promotion efforts though other channels included the advertisements on public transportations, advertisements in cinemas and though television broadcasting, posting in casinos, employee rest areas, and inside hotels.

2. Hosted the “Cross-Strait Responsible Gambling Summit”. The organizing committee specially invited Professor Alexander Blaszczynski of Sydney University and director of corporate responsibility of British Columbia Lottery Corporation of Canada, Mr. Paul W. Smith, to give keynote speeches at the summit. Professional participants from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Macao attended the event.

3. Responsible Gambling Awareness Survey. The purpose is to study local residents and tourists’ awareness of Responsible Gaming on a continuous basis.

4. “Introduction to Problem Gambling and Responsible Gambling for Gaming Sector Employees” trainer program and manual; provide the above mentioned tutorial and manual for gaming operators and associates for the purpose of effective pedagogy of the contents for all Macao’s gaming sector employees.

“Responsible Gambling 2011”

The theme of the year 2011 promotion activities was “Responsible Gambling Operations and Responsible Gambling Behaviors”, and these activities were targeted towards Macao residents and tourists in broadly promoting “Responsible Gambling Behaviors”, and also to encourage gaming operators to promote and refine the “Responsible Gambling Business Code of Conduct” in order to help reduce the risk of casino employees from being addicted to gaming.

Macau Gambling Age For Foreigners

To broaden the recognition of the promotion, in 2011, beside the original six casino gaming concessionaires that already participated, Macao Jockey Club, Macao Slot Company Limitied, Macao Yat Yuen Canidrome and Sociedade de Lotarias Wing Hing, Limitada joined in the list as co-host units.

The Promotion Activities include:

1. Hosted the first “18·21 Responsible Gambling Drama Competition”, which corresponds to Macao SAR government tuned up the minimum age of entering casino from 18 years to 21 years. The theme of the competition was framed as “After raising the restriction of entering casinos and betting centers from age of 18 to the age of 21, what changes and challenges Macao youth will face in terms of their gambling behavior, work altitude, and academic work?”

2. Invited every Macao gaming enterprises and problem gambling prevention centers to participate in billboard promotion activities which took place in all Macao major public resting areas, gaming enterprises employee resting areas, and in major colleges, to demonstrate the relevance information on “Responsible Gambling Operations and Responsible Gambling Behaviors”. In Macao and Taipa, large outdoor advertisement billboards were being posted respectively. Advertisement products were made and given out to local residents and tourists; and also though advertisements on television, radio, cinemas and public buses.

3. Hosted the “Responsible Gambling Forum: Business and Conduct”. The forum provided a platform for scholars, research institutes, gaming operators, problem gambling prevention institutes and gamers, to exchange and discuss responsible gambling works; the host invited United Kingdom and Australia responsible gambling areas expert scholars, such as Mark Griffiths and Lynned Bertolini, to present speeches on the specialized topic.

4. “Responsible Gambling” prize quiz competition and lucky draw activities.

5. Carried out a “Responsible Gambling” awareness survey, with the purpose of evaluating the level of “Responsible Gambling” awareness among Macao residents after the activities.

Brochures of 'Responsible Gambling 2011'

“Responsible Gambling 2012”

The theme of year 2012 was “Seek Help Proactively”; through the activities, the purpose was to advertise to local Macao residents and tourists about “Responsible Gambling”, enrich their knowledge to the local responsible gambling prevention institutes, and to encourage gaming participants with recessive gambling problems, and their families to seek help actively.

To provide more convenient and more comprehensive responsible gambling information to local Macao residents and tourists, and to enrich their knowledge on “Responsible Gambling”, the host unit announced the setup of “Responsible Gambling Kiosk”, and startup development and evaluation work in year 2012. On the 17^th December 2012, “Responsible Kiosk (Pilot Test)” was setup inside the six casinos.

The Major Promotion Activities include:

1. To accord the setup of “Responsible Gambling Kiosk”, the host unit conducted a “Responsible Gambling Kiosk Ambassador” training program, the content focused on the operation of the Kiosk, promotion and information related mainly to responsible gambling. After completion from the training program, students qualify as responsible gambling Kiosk ambassadors, and can promote “Responsible Gambling” concepts to local residents and tourists.

2. Invited every Macao gaming enterprises and problem gambling prevention centers to participate in billboard promotion activities which took place in all Macao major public resting areas, gaming enterprises employee resting areas, and in major colleges, to demonstrate the relevant information on “Responsible Gambling” and “Seek Help Proactively”, and also the responsibilities of gaming enterprises promotion of responsible gambling and the hosting of related activities. In Macao and Taipa, large outdoor advertisement billboards were being posted respectively. Advertisement products were made and given out to local residents and tourists; and also through advertisements on television, radio, cinemas and public buses.

3. Hosted the responsible gambling “Seek Help Proactively” drama competition, themed as “Seek Help Proactively”: including gaming participants and their relatives actively providing care, through actively seeking professional treatment, and casino exclusion etc.

4. Hosted the first “Responsible Gambling Four Boxes Comic Creativity Competition”, the competition was divided into student category: “Whose Responsibilities” and open category: “Seek Help Proactively”.

5. “Responsible Gambling” prize quiz competition and luck draw activities.

6. Carried out a “Responsible Gambling” awareness survey, with the purpose of evaluating the level of “Responsible Gambling” awareness among Macao residents after the activities.

Brochures of 'Responsible Gambling 2012'

Snapshots of the Responsible Gambling Promotional Activities 2012

“Responsible Gambling 2013”

Co-organized by the Social Welfare Bureau of Macau SAR, Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau of Macau SAR and the Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming, University of Macau, the Responsible Gambling series activities have been successfully held for 5 years. In 2013, the promotion theme was “Community Support” which aimed to arouse the concern and attention on responsible gambling issues to the government, gaming operators, problem gambling prevention and treatment centers, educational institutes, community organizations and local residents. In addition, we also hope that all stakeholders can actively participate and support our activities.

The Major Promotion Activities include:

1. During the promotion period, the organizers distributed posters and roll-up banners to the gaming operators and problem gambling prevention and treatment centers. Moreover, we distributed more than 19,000 RG badges to the participating organizations and encouraged their staffs to wear the badges for one month or above.

2. The gaming operators had held different RG campaigns in their respective operations. During the promotion period, they organized RG day/week and also provided trainings to the employees so as to reinforce their awareness on responsible gambling.

3. One of the organizers – the Social Welfare Bureau of Macau SAR had subsidized six NGOs to conduct varies activities, for strengthening the knowledge of local residents on RG through interactive games. The six NGOs are Macau New Chinese Youth Association, Young Men’s Christian Association of Macau, Sheng Kung Hui Gambling Counseling and Family Wellness Centre, Macau Gaming Industry Labourers Association, Macau Responsible Gaming Association and Macau Federation of Trade Unions.

4. Through holding the Universities Promotion Day, the Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming set up game booths to promote responsible gambling in four tertiary education institutions, including the University of Macau, Macau Polytechnic Institute, Institute for Tourism Studies and Macau University of Science and Technology.

Snapshots of the Responsible Gambling Promotional Activities 2013

Responsible Gambling Kiosk

“Responsible Gambling Information Pavilion” is part of the responsible gambling promotion activities, and is the result of cooperation between Gaming Inspection, and Coordination Bureau, Social Welfare Bureau and the Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming of University of Macao. The purpose is to provide a more convenient and comprehensive way for local residents and tourists to access responsible gambling information, and to deepen the “Responsible Gambling” knowledge and ways to seek help, so to prevent and reduce problem gambling cases from happening.

On the 17^th December 2012, “Responsible Gambling Kiosk” first phrase testing version was setup inside the six Macao casinos, including Casino Lisboa, Galaxy Macao, Venetian, Wynn, Melco Crown and MGM. By accessing the silent mode games, interactive games and prized quiz etc., User can learn the right gaming information and “Responsible Gambling” related information. Also, the kiosks are functioned with gambling addiction assessment, and can be printed out, with contact information of Macao problem gambling prevention centers. In addition, “Responsible Gambling Information Kiosk Ambassador” will promote the kiosk at specific times.

“Responsible Gambling Kiosk” (pilot test) unveil ceremony

Responsible Gambling Information Kiosk Version 2.0

Macau Casino Age Restriction

Report on Responsible Gambling

Report on Responsible Gambling 2009-2013