Content Writer: Janice Chew • Wednesday, 25/09/2025 - 16:59:21 - PM
Macau’s gaming regulator, the DICJ, has overseen the orderly shutdown of the Grand Dragon Casino, Melco Resorts’ last satellite gambling venue in Taipa, with operations officially ending at 23:59 on 22 September 2025. The move corresponds with Macau’s broader plan to phase out all 11 satellite casinos by the end of 2025 under revised gaming laws that favor direct ownership or stricter licensing structures.
Melco has confirmed that all gaming tables from Grand Dragon will be transferred to its flagship City of Dreams resort in Cotai, while electronic gaming machines from other closing venues—such as Mocha Kuong Fat—will be reallocated across Altira, Studio City, and City of Dreams, subject to DICJ approval. The closure also affects staff: approximately 176 employees at Grand Dragon and 36 at Mocha Kuong Fat will be reassigned to roles in Melco’s remaining properties, rather than being laid off.
Regulatory oversight played a critical role in the closure. The DICJ coordinated closely with labor and security bureaus to supervise cash handling, the exchange of chips and vouchers, jackpot payouts, and customer redemptions. Patrons holding Grand Dragon chips may redeem them at the Altira casino starting 23 September; holders of TITO vouchers from the Mocha clubs will remain able to redeem at surviving Mocha venues such as Mocha Inner Harbor, Mocha Golden Dragon, and Mocha Sintra Hotel.
From a strategic and investor perspective, the shutdown underscores how Melco is repositioning its Macau operations amid shifting legal constraints and market pressures. By consolidating assets into fewer, larger integrated resorts, Melco aims to enhance operational efficiency and regulatory compliance. However, investor watchers will be watching the cost, revenue impacts, and whether this consolidation will strengthen Melco’s long-term competitive edge under Macau’s evolving gaming regime.