- Macau’s satellite casinos are shutting down for good as Casino Kam Pek Paradise closed December 1 and Casino Fortuna follows December 9.
- New gaming law eliminates the satellite model that let outside investors run casinos under license holders’ umbrellas.
- Beijing pushes Macau toward tourism diversification and away from gaming-focused venues that defined the old era.
MACAU — The gambling enclave’s satellite casino system is coming to an end, and what’s happening right now marks the close of an era that few will miss, but many won’t forget.
After 18 years of operation under SJM Resorts’ gaming license, Casino Kam Pek Paradise closed at midnight on December 1. In the first half of 2025, the downtown property brought in HKD382.6 million. Paradise Entertainment Ltd marketed it as the world’s first e-casino, emphasizing electronic gaming in a way that predated the rise of mobile blackjack sites by several years.
The shutdown had a significant negative impact on the bottom line of the Hong Kong-listed firm since that revenue amount accounted for over 75% of Paradise Entertainment’s overall revenue.
Casino Fortuna, which is set to close on December 9, is not far behind. Since 2005, the low-cost venue on Avenida da Amizade has provided a simple substitute for the towering resort complexes on the Cotai Strip.
The 553 employees of Fortuna will be absorbed into other properties by SJM, and the 584 employees of Kam Pek Paradise will see similar changes. Labor officials and gaming regulators are collaborating on the changes to ensure that employees maintain their compensation and benefits when they move into new positions.
New Macau Gaming Law Drives Closures
Macau’s modified Gaming Law No. 7/2022, which eliminated the satellite model that allowed foreign investors to run casinos under a license holder’s umbrella, is the reason for the closures. These locations catered to gamblers who valued substance over spectacle by providing legal blackjack and other classic games in simple settings.
After Macau capped gaming licenses at six in 2002, the system was developed as a workaround to allow for expansion without actually adding new permit holders.
Beijing, however, has outlined its priorities. Authorities on the mainland want Macau to expand beyond gaming and become a top-tier travel destination with family-friendly features. Satellite casinos are precisely what Beijing wishes to phase out, with their exclusive emphasis on gaming rather than leisure complexes that provide blackjack variations alongside shopping and performances.
After being acquired for HKD1.75 billion, only Casino L’Arc will remain, since it will be integrated into SJM’s core business. By year’s end, Macau’s gambling industry will have undergone the most significant transformation in more than 20 years, and the satellite age will be ended.