Players looking to play in Macau will have to find another way to get their fix as all its casinos will be closed for a week from Monday. An outbreak of COVID-19 has caused Macau to largely confine people to their homes. The virus has infected more than 1,400 people in the past three weeks. All businesses have been ordered to close with the sole exception of supermarkets and essential services. HARD ROCK DEAL ENDES ATLANTIC CITY CASINO STRIKE THREAT Residents must stay home unless they fit into food, shopping or essential categories. Macau, a semi-autonomous Chinese region like neighboring Hong Kong, is following a version of China’s “zero COVID-19” strategy. The Venetian Macao Resorts in Macau. The Asian gaming hub of Macau will close all of its casinos for a week starting Monday, July 11, and largely confine people to their homes as it tries to stem a COVID-19 outbreak that has infected more ((AP Photo/ (Kin Cheung, File) / AP Newsroom) This includes locking down buildings that have outbreaks and conducting repeated rounds of mass testing to find and isolate infected people. Macau is facing its first major outbreak of the pandemic. The city of 680,000 people recorded 93 new cases on Saturday, bringing the total in the ongoing outbreak to 1,467. JOHN INDUSTRY SETS RECORD AT $53 BILLION IN 2021 Anyone going outside must wear a mask, while adults must use an N95 or equivalent. Croupiers stand at a Sic Bo gaming table inside a casino at Sands Cotai Central in Macau. ((AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File) / AP Newsroom) The measures, announced on Saturday, extend restrictions that have been in place since June 23. Casinos are now following an earlier order that closed salons, gyms, movie theaters, bars, nightclubs and other entertainment venues and banned dining at restaurants, limiting them to takeout or delivery. LAS VEGAS SANDS DEMAND $12 BILLION FOR MACAU STADIUM As of 2022, six licensed operators operate 42 casinos in Macau, including Sands China, SJM Holdings, Wynn Macau, Galaxy Entertainment Group, MGM China Holdings and Melco Crown Entertainment. Macau’s Venetian casino resorts are located on the Cotai Strip in Macau. ((AP Photo/Kin Cheung/AP Newsroom) Macau’s economy is heavily dependent on its casinos and related businesses. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
