The Government was considering raising the threshold for companies wishing to enter Macao’s gaming promotion sector in a bid to promote a healthier development of the industry, said the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac.

Possible measures included increasing the deposit that such gaming promoters must pledge, he added.

Mr Leong said the options were still being studied, noting the Government sought a balance between the ease of introducing such measures and the sustainability of the industry.

The Government would further seek the views of people in the industry and those of the public, he told reporters on Friday (15 April).

Regarding the suggestion of raising the deposit to 10 million patacas, the Secretary said it would be inappropriate to decide on the matter before collecting more opinions.

Regarding the possibility of creating a database of people owing money to Macao’s gaming promoters, Mr Leong said the Government still needed to evaluate factors such as protection of personal information; how practical it would be to operate; and whether the suggested database was in line with other existing regulations.

The Government pays great attention to the development of gaming promoters, in particular during the adjustment period of the city’s gaming industry, Mr Leong said. He added he hoped to establish regulations that could protect the rights of consumers and of the industry, as well as promoting sustainable development of the industry in the long run.

* Chinese and Portuguese are the official langugages of Macao, the English version of the web site is the translation from the Chinese originals and is provided for reference only.