Content Writer: Janice Chew • Saturday, 25/09/2025 - 22:56:01 - PM
Macau is set to see another shift in its casino landscape: Melco Resorts & Entertainment has confirmed the closure of Grand Dragon Casino (Taipa) and Mocha Kuong Fat Slots Club (downtown Macau) early next week. Grand Dragon will cease operations at 23:59 on Monday, 22 September 2025, and Mocha Kuong Fat will shut down at 23:59 on Wednesday, 24 September 2025.
These closures are not random but form part of a broader, government-mandated regulatory overhaul. Macau passed amendments in 2022 to its gaming laws, which require that all casinos be directly owned and operated by licensed concessionaires — ending the “satellite casino” / revenue-sharing model where licensed operators had arrangements with third-party hotel or property owners. Under those changes, all 11 of Macau’s satellite casinos are to be shut down by the end of 2025. Melco’s move is in line with its overall strategic realignment in Macau.
To mitigate disruptions, Melco has laid out plans for reassigning assets, staff, and protecting customer rights. All gaming tables at Grand Dragon will be moved to its City of Dreams resort in the Cotai area. The electronic gaming machines at Mocha Kuong Fat and other Mocha Clubs set to close will be reallocated to Altira, City of Dreams, and Studio City. Employees from the closing venues are to be reassigned to other Melco-operated properties in Macau; their roles, salaries, and employment continuity are being promised. On the customers’ side, holders of Grand Dragon casino chips can redeem them at the Altira Macau “Melco Club / Signature Club” counter from 23 September. Gamblers with TITO slips from Mocha Kuong Fat can use other Mocha Clubs still operating (like Mocha Inner Harbor, Mocha Golden Dragon, Mocha Sintra) to redeem.
These closures mark the end of an era and could reshape Macau’s gaming industry. The fading of the satellite casino model reduces the number of smaller gaming-venues tucked into hotels or other properties, consolidating power under the major license holders. For Melco, which previously had only one large satellite casino (Grand Dragon), the impact is more manageable; other operators such as SJM Resorts have many more satellite venues to shutter. The goal appears to be tightening regulatory oversight, improving operational efficiency, and consolidating revenue under direct ownership, which may strengthen profit margins in the longer term. Yet short-term costs — reassigning staff, moving equipment, possible loss of foot traffic in certain districts — may pose challenges. Macau’s authorities have said they will monitor the process, especially on labor and rights issues.