Melco to wind down four Macau gaming properties as satellite casino transition nears end

Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd. will shut down four of its Macau-based gaming venues by the end of 2025, according to a company statement. The move is part of an operational shift that aligns with internal planning and complies with regulatory frameworks established by the Macau SAR government.

In February, it was announced that the city's three-year grace period for revenue-sharing arrangements under the satellite casino will expire at the end of 2025. Under amendments to Macau’s gaming law enacted in 2022, satellite casino operators must move to a structure in which they are directly owned by licensees. Those that survive the transition will move to a management fees model, not shared revenues.

Melco Chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho previously stated that the rule change would have minimal effect on Melco’s operations, noting that the company manages only one small satellite casino property—Grand Dragon Casino in Taipa—which operates 17 gaming tables.

In relation to the upcoming closures, Melco will shut down Grand Dragon Casino and three Mocha Clubs: Mocha Hotel Royal, Mocha Kuong Fat, and Mocha Grand Dragon Hotel.

Melco Resorts is a subsidiary of Melco International Development Ltd., which is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Melco confirmed that all employees at the affected sites will be reassigned to other Melco properties within Macau. The company said job functions and salaries will remain unchanged following redeployment.

Gaming tables and electronic machines currently in use at the closing venues will also be transferred to other Melco-managed locations in the city to maintain operational balance.

While preparing to end operations at these sites, the company has also submitted applications to keep three other Mocha Clubs—Mocha Inner Harbour, Mocha Hotel Sintra, and Mocha Golden Dragon—open beyond December 2025. These applications are pending approval and are subject to licensing and regulatory requirements.

The company did not provide further details on the decision-making process behind the closures or the expected timeline for the approval of its pending applications.

Melco is one of six companies currently licensed to operate gaming in Macau, which remains the largest regulated casino market in Asia.