Macau casino operator announces employee bonuses, pay increases
Macau casino employees below the non-management level will receive work bonuses in 2023 and salary increases in 2024.
Five of the six commercial gaming operators have confirmed 2023 bonus payments to eligible non-management employees. Employees at Sands China Ltd., Wynn Macau Ltd., MGM China Holdings, Galaxy Entertainment and Melco Resorts have confirmed receiving year-end bonuses. Sands Corp. and Melco International also announced pay increases for the coming year.
The 2023 incentive includes one month’s salary for eligible employees. The funds will be distributed to employees before the Chinese New Year on February 10.
Sands' bonuses will be paid to about 99% of its 26,000 employees in Macau. About 98% of Galaxy's 18,600 employees will receive bonuses in 2023. Nearly all (99%) of Melco Resorts' 16,000 employees will receive bonuses, as will "more than 95%" of MGM's 12,000 employees.
Sands and Melco salary increase
To protect its employees from poaching by rival operators, Sands also announced it would raise wages for full-time employees to 13,000 patacas ($1,618) a month. The salary increase will take effect on March 1, with an increase of up to 5.4%.
Melco Crown will also increase wages for "non-management associates" at City of Dreams by 2.5% effective April 1.
"The increase in bonuses and base salary recognizes the commitment, loyalty and hard work of our qualified non-management associates," said Lawrence Ho, billionaire founder, chairman and CEO of Melco Crown Resorts. "We are grateful The commitment and hard work of our colleagues to maintain the quality of service at Melco Resorts and provide our guests with the most memorable experience."
Sands The salary increase is equivalent to MOP600 (US$75) per month or US$900 per year.
"The resilience and collective spirit of our team members has not only guided us through the challenges of recent years, but also led us into a period of innovation," said Sands China President and CEO Yingwei Wang.
Returning in 2023
Recently, Macau Economy and Finance Minister Li Weinong encouraged Macau casino operators to increase employee wages as much as possible.
"We cannot order casino franchisees to adjust wages... but we recommend them to share the fruits of economic recovery with their employees," Lei Jun told the media in November.
Those gains must contend with last year's recovery in Macau's casino industry. After more than three years of dealing with the coronavirus (COVID-19) and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s “zero-COVID” policy, Macau returned to more normal life in 2023.
Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) last year totaled approximately $22.7 billion, a 334% increase from 2022 and more than double the 2021 revenue of the six operators.
While 2023 marks the start of Macau's recovery from the pandemic, casinos still have a long way to go to reach the levels of 2019, when casinos collectively won more than $36 billion.
The working environment in Macau has changed dramatically in recent years, and most VIP tour groups have fled. The exodus follows the successful prosecution of junket billionaire Chow Cheuk Wah, who was found guilty of fraud, illegal gambling and criminal organization and sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Read also:
- Blackjack Casino Advantage: How to Beat the Odds
- Football 101: What is relegation in football?
- Claims kidnapped poker champ sent encrypted messages while missing
- VICI Properties' credit rating to be affected by non-gaming acquisitions
Source: www.casino.org
