New version of gaming bill still pending

LAWMAKER Chan Chak Mo confirmed yesterday that the government had not yet delivered the updated version of the casino bill to his committee.

Chan, president of the parliament’s Second Standing Committee, was promised last week by the Secretary for Economy and Finance that he would strive to deliver the updated version of the gaming law amendment bill.

Chan said last week that his committee wanted to consider the Casino Gaming Operation and Business System, colloquially referred to as the junket bill, alongside the updated gambling bill, considering their close connection.

Despite the delay, the committee continued to study the junket bill.

In yesterday’s meeting, Chan said that extra sessions may be needed to study the junket bill because of its relatively large size.

The committee discussed proposed provisions concerning junket collaborators. They should be at least 21 years old, have “appropriate qualifications” and sign contracts with junket operators.

However, they will be working as freelancers or “slashers,” meaning that they will need to declare tax and pay their own social security instalments, among other responsibilities. Junket operators will not have an employer’s obligation to them.

The junket bill also proposes that intermediaries, partners and management companies are not allowed to make deposits. Violation of this prohibition will constitute criminal offences punishable by two to five years in prison.

At the meeting, some committee members were concerned by the definition of deposits and expressed a hope that the government would define them clearly, as many gamblers leave their winnings with casinos for future games, according to Chan.

Regarding whether collaborators must be Macau residents, the government has changed its position and proposed in the junket bill that non-resident workers should be allowed. Previously, when the same committee studied the gaming bill, it agreed with the government’s position at the time of allowing only local residents to work as collaborators.

Back then, Chan even made a guess about the government’s intention — which might be to make it easier for it to manage, if not control, the industry.

Although this proposal allows non-locals to work as junket collaborators, relevant labor laws and regulations should be complied with, Chan added.

The bill proposes that joint and several liability can be excluded if it is proved that the concessionaires concerned have fulfilled their supervisory obligations with due diligence, including the establishment of a monitoring mechanism and measures to prevent wrongdoing.

The committee is concerned that there is no mechanism in the junket bill to exclude the joint and several liability of intermediaries and management companies.

Additionally, the Chief Executive’s approval is needed when a licensed casino operator wants to hire a management company.