Macau casinos to shut if super typhoon Ragasa warning rises above Signal No. 8

Macau will order its casinos to close if the tropical cyclone warning for Super Typhoon Ragasa rises above Signal No. 8, officials said, as the gambling hub braces for a storm that could match the strength of Typhoon Hato in 2017 and Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018.

“When the Ragasa warning signal is raised over No. 8, casinos will close,” Macau’s Secretary for Economy and Finance, Tai Kin Ip, told reporters. “Following the typhoon, employers should flexibly arrange staff attendance as appropriate and allow sufficient time for employees to return to their workplaces.”

The Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau said Ragasa could approach within 100 kilometres of the city between early and mid-Wednesday, warning of water levels of up to five metres, flooding two metres above road surfaces, and possible power outages.

Precautionary measures include suspension of buses and light rail if Signal No. 8 or above is issued. Ferry services to the mainland have already been halted. Macau International Airport expects around 250 flights to be affected, with virtually no operations on September 24.

“After 4 pm on September 23, flight operations will be significantly reduced, with virtually no flights taking off or landing on September 24,” the airport operator said. Services are expected to gradually resume Sept. 25.

Traffic on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge will be suspended from 3 p.m. Tuesday, while residents have been urged to stock three days of provisions and prepare for heavy rain, thunderstorms, and flooding.

Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai held a press conference with five secretaries to outline the government’s preparations.

Typhoon Hato in 2017 killed 10 people, injured 244 and caused MOP12.55 billion ($1.57 billion) in losses. A year later, Typhoon Mangkhut forced Macau to shut all casinos for the first time since legal gambling began in 1847, leading to the creation of a civil protection legal regime for disaster response.

Casino operators sometimes suspend non-gaming operations during storms, but analysts said Ragasa could weigh on September’s casino gross gaming revenue. “Last year, September was negatively impacted by two major typhoons, somewhat offset by high VIP hold,” said Vitaly Umansky of Seaport Research Partners.