Macau is a location with riveting gambling industry which has dedicated its efforts to developing its entertainment offerings suitable for anyone and everyone. However, with this comes also the threat of problem gambling which is a highly discussed topic around the globe. According to the recent information, there has been an 11.3-percent surge in the number of people reporting gambling addiction in Macau.
Millions of tourists from around the world make their way to the Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China in order to give their luck a try and see what the gaming industry has up for grabs there. Most of the leading casino developers have their operation there and they enjoy the attention of tourists and players from near and far on a daily basis. This focus on the gambling field does not come without consequences to some of the most enthusiastic players.
It is not a secret to anyone that problem gambling is a serious issue which should not be overlooked or ignored as it has the potential to bring permanent damage to the financial state of both the player directly affected by it and their relatives and close ones. According to a recently issued annual report by Central Registry System of Individuals with Gambling Disorder on the subject over the span of 2017, there have been as many as 157 people reporting problem gambling tendencies in their gaming patterns which is a considerable figure.
Problem Gambling Issues Rising
What should be taken into account, however, is that this is the number of people who actually seek help because they have realized they have an actual issue which needs working on. There is an even larger chunk of players that do not report or simply do not take measure to solve the ongoing problem.
For reference, as much as 80 percent of the people who actually sought help in this situation over the span of last year were residents of Macau. Another concerning tendency which seems to become more and more apparent is the fact that some 10 percent of them are people who work at one of the casino venues and have constant interaction with gambling activities. Measures for the protection of dealers and croupiers as well as other employees of the casino facilities should be introduced in order to improve the working conditions for thousands of workers in the industry.
In relation to this concerning statistic, the authorities have once again made it clear that casino developers should shift their focus to other non-gaming offerings. The ultimate goal would be a Las Vegas style of operation where there is a wide variety of more family-friendly options as well as annual conventions, nightlife and entertainment which does not necessarily involve gambling.
Analysts in the field have stated that as much as 40 percent of the operating casino resorts revenue could come from non-gaming activities and this is the ultimate goal which has been set. At the moment only 12 percent of the US33 billion gross gaming revenue was generated in this manner.
