Macau to Close Its Final Satellite Casino as 2025 Ends
The last satellite casino operating in Macau will close permanently on December 30, marking the end of a business structure that has existed for more than two decades.
Casino Landmark, located inside the New Orient Landmark Hotel, is scheduled to cease operations at 11:59 p.m. The closure concludes a model that emerged in the early 2000s after Macau liberalized its gaming industry. That policy shift ended the city's casino monopoly and opened the market to new operators, accelerating growth in gaming revenue.
Related: SJM's Casino Grandview to Shut Down on July 30Satellite casinos operated under a distinct arrangement within the regulatory system. They were managed by third-party operators but functioned using the gaming licenses of the city's concessionaires rather than holding licenses themselves.
This structure was fundamentally altered in 2022 when Macau revised its gaming law as existing concessions expired. The amended law required satellite casinos to move away from profit-sharing arrangements and transition to direct ownership by license holders within three years.
Following the regulatory change, concessionaires were forced to choose between acquiring their satellite casinos or shutting them down. SJM Holdings opted to close seven of its nine satellites, including Casino Landmark, while pursuing direct ownership of the remaining two.
Only three of Macau's six gaming concessionaires—Galaxy Entertainment Group, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, and SJM Holdings—were associated with satellite operations. Each committed to relocating satellite employees to other casino properties within the city.
The Macau Labour Affairs Bureau said it would monitor the transition to ensure employee protections are upheld. The bureau stated that workers affected by the closures would retain their employment rights during reassignment.
SJM announced that customers of Casino Landmark with outstanding chips, deposits, or cash rebate balances would be able to redeem them at other SJM-operated casinos beginning December 31. The company did not disclose the number of affected patrons.
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In June, when concessionaires confirmed plans to close nine of Macau's eleven satellite casinos, industry analysts described the move as the end of an era. Satellite casinos traditionally served local neighborhoods rather than the mass-market tourist segment.
Concerns have been raised about reduced foot traffic in districts that hosted satellite venues. Analysts noted that these casinos often supported nearby restaurants and small retail businesses.
Other observers have argued that the broader industry impact will be limited. Gaming law experts have said that relocating gaming tables and machines to larger casinos should preserve overall market capacity.
Academic commentators have linked the closures to Macau's broader economic strategy. The government has stated that it aims to reduce reliance on gaming by promoting non-gaming tourism and other industries.
Some scholars have cautioned that scaling back gaming operations before alternative sectors are fully developed could pose economic risks. They have argued that diversification efforts should mature before policies constrain the gaming industry.
With the closure of Casino Landmark, Macau's casino sector will operate exclusively through directly managed properties held by licensed concessionaires. The change reflects a regulatory shift toward consolidation in the world's largest gaming market.
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