Asia Gaming Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 85 Week of 5 October 2026
(1) Sands China unveiled four-tier linked progressive baccarat jackpot across Cotai mass floors
Sands China has launched a four-tier linked progressive jackpot on live baccarat tables across the mass gaming floors of its Cotai properties, available via a designated HKD200 side bet.
(2) IMF: Macau gaming continues shift to mass market; VIP share expected to stay low
The International Monetary Fund notes that Macau’s gaming market has continued its structural shift toward the mass segment, which accounted for about 73% of gross gaming revenue in 2025, and expects the VIP share to remain relatively low in the medium term.
(3) National Day Racing Day at Sha Tin drew nearly 30,000 with strong visitor turnout and Colourful King took the National Day Cup
The Hong Kong Jockey Club staged National Day Racing Day at Sha Tin to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, attracting nearly 30,000 racegoers, including more than 9,300 mainland and overseas visitors, and recording total turnover of over HK$1.6 billion.
(4) Disturbance at Jeju Dream Tower Casino after “odd-coloured cards” appeared in baccarat
A baccarat game at Jeju Dream Tower Casino triggered a disturbance when more than 50 Chinese gamblers questioned the appearance of “odd-coloured cards” and alleged cheating; authorities later attributed the incident to dealer error rather than foul play.
(1) Sands China unveiled four-tier linked progressive baccarat jackpot across Cotai mass floors
(Photo Credit: Exmoo)
The four-tier linked progressive jackpot went live ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day Golden Week. It links eligible tables at The Venetian Macao (澳門威尼斯人) (including the Mass Red Dragon Game Zone (赤龍戰區) and high-limits baccarat area), The Plaza (澳門百利宮), The Parisian Macao (澳門巴黎人) high-limits area, and The Londoner Macao (澳門倫敦人)’s Londoner Casino and Londoner Grand Casino.
Players opt in through a clearly marked red circle on a new baccarat table layout. The side bet is fixed at HKD200 and is separate from the main baccarat wagers. The four tiers are Grand, Major, Minor and Mini. The top-tier Grand jackpot (reported above HKD15 million at launch) is triggered when the player’s hand wins 7–6 over the banker from a total of six cards, with the player’s cards all diamonds and the banker’s all spades. Lower tiers pay on related 7–6 outcomes with suit conditions or on red-versus-black suit combinations, with fixed cash awards for the Minor (HKD16,000) and Mini (HKD8,000) levels.
The progressive is offered on Sands China’s smart baccarat tables alongside other side bets such as Lucky Six and Lucky 7 variants. It replaces an earlier two-tier progressive on Lucky 6 and Lucky 7 side bets that ran from mid-2025 until March 2026. Main baccarat minimums on Cotai mass floors were typically HKD1,000–2,000 (higher in high-limit zones), with other side bets commonly priced around HKD200–300.
Industry observers are watching whether the multi-tier linked progressive lifts mass-table participation and revenue during the peak holiday period. Exact winning combinations, stake rules and prize caps remain subject to the floor rules displayed at each property.
News Source: https://www.exmoo.com/article/266203.html
(2) IMF: Macau gaming continues shift to mass market; VIP share expected to stay low
(Photo Credit: Exmoo)
The International Monetary Fund (國際貨幣基金組織) observed that the post-pandemic recovery has been driven primarily by mass-market play. Tighter regulation of gaming promoters since 2022, restrictions on gaming credit, and stronger anti-money-laundering measures have altered the operating environment for VIP business, making a return to previous VIP dominance unlikely even if VIP volumes recover somewhat.
Macau’s GGR rose 9.1% in 2025 (reaching about 85% of the 2019 level) and a further 6.9% in the first half of 2026, largely on the back of mass-market growth. Real GDP, however, remains roughly 10% below pre-pandemic levels, partly reflecting weaker high-end gaming demand. The IMF projects growth of 3.3% in 2026 and 3.1% in 2027, slower than the 4.7% recorded in 2025, amid softer mainland and Hong Kong growth and external uncertainties.
Gaming still accounts for 40–45% of GDP and mainland visitors for about 70% of arrivals, leaving the economy exposed to external shocks and shifts in tourist spending patterns. The IMF noted progress on economic diversification under the third five-year plan, which targets non-gaming industries at around 60% of GDP by 2030, and highlighted opportunities linked to the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin (橫琴粵澳深度合作區) and ties with Portuguese-speaking countries.
The Fund assessed Macau’s banking system as sound and the pataca’s link to the Hong Kong dollar as a stabilising factor. It recommended further use of digitalisation and artificial intelligence to raise productivity, accelerate industrial transformation, and improve public-administration efficiency, while using fiscal buffers to support domestic demand and the transition.
News Source: https://www.exmoo.com/article/266288.html
(Photo Credit: RTHK)
The Racing Day featured free admission to the public enclosures at Sha Tin and Happy Valley, cultural performances and the National Day Cup. Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki attended the opening ceremony in the parade ring, together with senior Jockey Club officials, and later presented the National Day Cup trophy.
China’s Three Tenors, Dai Yuqiang (戴玉強), Warren Mok (莫華倫) and Wei Song (魏松), made a joint appearance, performing classics and leading the national anthem accompanied by the Hong Kong Police Band. A national-level intangible cultural heritage “zhongfan” (中幡) acrobatic display by the Cangzhou Acrobatic Troupe of Hebei Province (滄州雜技團) added to the festive programme. The Club also offered dining discounts and interactive prize promotions linked to the National Day theme.
On the track, Colourful King (顏色之皇), trained by David Eustace (遊達榮) and ridden by Zac Purton (潘頓), won the National Day Cup. Other notable results included a Class 2 success for Jewellery Sky. The combination of free entry, entertainment and competitive racing produced a lively atmosphere and underlined the Club’s racing-tourism strategy.
Chan highlighted the free admission and discounted food and beverage offers as reflecting city-wide National Day celebrations. The government expected around 1.29 million mainland visitors during the Golden Week period. The strong visitor numbers at Sha Tin reinforced horse racing’s role as both a cultural landmark and a contributor to Hong Kong’s events economy.
News Source: https://gbcode.rthk.hk/TuniS/news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1872293-20261001.htm
(4) Disturbance at Jeju Dream Tower Casino after “odd-coloured cards” appeared in baccarat
(Photo Credit: Exmoo)
In late September, during an evening baccarat session at Jeju Dream Tower Casino (濟州天城賭場), cards of unexpected colour appeared, prompting more than 50 Chinese patrons to protest and accuse the casino of cheating. Emotions ran high and the situation escalated into disorder. Police deployed more than 100 officers to restore order.
Police applied for their arrest, but the Jeju court rejected the application on 26 September, imposing instead a 30-day travel restriction while investigations continued. Officials reported no injuries and no property damage.
The casino denied any cheating. It said it had reviewed procedures, strengthened dealer training and pledged to improve handling of operational errors such as misdealt or odd-coloured cards. Jeju Dream Tower Casino accounts for a large share of the local casino market, with Chinese visitors forming a high proportion of its clientele.
The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Korea reminded travellers that while overseas casinos may be legal locally, cross-border gambling can breach Chinese law. It urged rational entertainment, compliance with rules and use of proper channels to resolve disputes rather than emotional reactions. The episode occurred during the Mid-Autumn and National Day travel peak and drew attention to casino operational controls and risk management.
News Source: https://www.exmoo.com/article/251201.html
