The Government was closely monitoring the gaming industry, including inspection on the legitimacy of operation and development of gaming promoters, the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac, said today.

The Government was optimistic in transforming Macao as a world centre of tourism and leisure, and would step up efforts to fortify a healthy development of the gaming industry, Mr Leong told reporters after a public event.

The Secretary said gaming revenue in September this year showed a narrowing decline from the same period last year, and detailed figures would be released soon.

There were usually two or three billion patacas difference between August and September based on the patterns of the past, he added.

When asked, Mr Leong said the work of analysing the number of gaming tables allocated in those newly-established projects was still in progress; the Government would take into consideration the project’s non-gaming elements, if it helped to improve the industry’s competitiveness, and if it could drive development of other industry.

It also had to abide by the Government’s principle of an annual increase of number of gaming tables remained at less than three per cent until 2023, he said.

In addition, Mr Leong said the Government would keep in close touch with gaming operators to know better if there was any casino worker taking an unpaid leave during the consolidation period and if this would affect their welfare.