Macau's SJM Resorts to close Casino Grandview on July 30, ahead of schedule

SJM Resorts said on Monday it will shut its satellite venue Casino Grandview in Taipa at 11:59 p.m. on July 30, moving up the timeline for the closure as part of a broader retreat from the satellite casino model.

The company cited “overall business planning and commercial considerations” for the earlier-than-expected closure but did not elaborate further.

Casino Grandview is one of several satellite properties operated under SJM Holdings Ltd’s gaming licence but promoted by third parties. The operator announced in June that it would end operations at seven of its nine satellite casinos by the end of 2025, retaining only Ponte 16 and L’Arc Macau, which it plans to bring under direct control.

“All gaming tables currently operating at the location will be redeployed to other casinos of the company to continue serving our valued customers,” SJM said in a statement regarding Casino Grandview. It did not disclose how many tables would be relocated.

Customers with unredeemed chips, deposits, or cash rebates from Grandview can redeem them at Casino Casa Real starting July 31, 2025. “The company will ensure that all customer entitlements are duly honoured,” SJM added.

The company also emphasized employee protections during the transition. All 159 local staff employed directly by SJM at Casino Grandview will be reassigned to other venues within the group. An additional seven employees working for the third-party promoter will be invited to apply for roles within the company, "with priority in hiring in equal circumstances."

Macau’s casino regulator, the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), said it will oversee the closure and coordinate with the Labour Affairs Bureau to ensure SJM fulfills its employment commitments.

The shutdown comes amid a sector-wide transition away from the satellite casino model. A revised regulatory framework taking effect in 2026 will bar third-party promoters from sharing in gaming revenue, limiting their compensation to a management fee. A grace period that allows the current structure remains in effect through the end of this year.

Analysts have played down the potential fallout. The satellite casino closures are not likely to have a significant impact on the gaming sector, as affected gaming tables “would likely be recirculated back into operation at the operators’ other facilities,” financial research firm CreditSights Inc. said in a recent note.