Macau Revives Junkets to Bolster Luxury Gaming Experiences

Junkets were once one of Macao’s greatest threats, with ties to the underworld and debt collecting, something that Bejing cracked down on in 2021. It slowly diminished in the 2020s, but now it seems the Macau Gaming Authorities have changed their stance and have increased the cap on the number of licensed junkets. In 2026, now 29 junkets are allowed to serve high rollers, in a bid to build on the gambling tourism in the sector. The Vegas of the East, Macau is arguably the biggest gambling hub in the world, and it is largely influential.

But it is not without competitors. Macau became a major powerhouse in the early 2000s, but with competition in Singapore, the Philippines, South Korea, Vietnam and soon Japan, the authorities want to continue to asserts its dominance in the region. Junkets, which rose to their highest in 2014 but came crashing down with scandals and ties to illegal gambling. What seemed done and dusted looks like it may make a comeback, though a measured one that is tightly regulated and controlled by the government.

What Are Junkets

Junkets are companies or operators that target high rollers. They create packages for high end clientele, including travel arrangements, accommodations, and also organize private rooms and VIP gambling experiences. They often work directly with the casinos and can arrange everything for the players in advance. Unlike personal hosts, who work at one casino, junkets can work with numerous establishments, and also arrange facilities or services outside the frame of gambling. For example, they could organize a chartered jet to Macau, a chauffeur to take the customers to the gambling venues, and set up private tournaments or high stakes baccarat games at multiple venues.

The VIP gamers play the casino games and tables, and the junket would collect a percentage of their spending money as their commission. Some, in the past, even lent money to the gamers to gamble. These junkets would generally find their clients by word of mouth, looking for potential gamblers in private circles and advertising in discreet forums or travel agencies set up for high rollers.

History of Junkets in Macau

Junkets became a thing back in the late 1990s, when foreign operators began building the casinos of Macau. As the only region in China where gambling was legal (and it still is the only region today), the interest in Macau was extremely high. And these junkets found opportunities to cater their business to high rollers who wanted to play for big money. The problem is that they were not really regulated, which allowed all kinds of illegal and black market operators to get in on the action.

At the peak of the junket culture, there were over 230 operators in Macau. They were central to Macau’s VIP baccarat gaming scene, and the very biggest junket operators diversified their operations into other amenities. They could, in-house, arrange dining experiences, high-end travel, retail experiences, set up special events and some even branched out into real estate and property development. The biggest, Suncity Group, initially ran on high roller commissions before diversifying its income stream through external investments.

One of those, was the debt collection market. The group laundered money, loaned money to their clients, and even ran illegal online gambling services. In 2021, Suncity Group was shut down as the founder was arrested on charges related to illegal cross-border gambling. After that, the authorities targeted more junkets, slowly deconstructing the networks and eradicating the culture of junket services.

Revival of Junkets

The new Macau gaming framework and Law 16/2022 took effect in January of 2023, and it allowed 36 junkets to operate in Macau. The goal was to restrict the activities to licensed and approved providers only, with a maximum cap of 50 junkets. In 2024 the number of junkets declined and went down to just 18. By 2025 it went up to 24, and now, from 2026 Macau has approved 29 licensed junkets. While it is still just a fraction of the pre-crackdown industry size, the numbers are important because they represent a gradual positive trend in this sector.

The problems really lie in the illegal aspects of these operators. Either acting as illegal betting brokers, offering debt loans, and illiciting illegal traffic in mainland China, where gambling is still illegal. In the current legislation, junkets can only operate in the following frameworks:

• They must be licensed by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau
• They have a minimum capital requirement of MOP 10 million (around $1.2 million)
• Junkets can only work with 1 casino operator
• Only 50 junkets can operate, and there is a separate limit for how many a casino can partner with
• Junkets cannot receive a share of casino profits, but instead a fixed commission
• They cannot provide credit or loans to players
• They cannot handle deposits and must comply with AML rules

This way, they have been relegated to the level of casino hosts, from a gaming perspective, only these companies can also coordinate travel and hospitality. They cannot run financial operations handling player money, collect debts, or make a profit off the amount their clients gamble. All gambling hotspots have struggled with scandals regarding illegal brokers or underground activity, even recently there were serious neglect in the AML policy at Las Vegas Casinos. But in Macau, the market of junkets has now been made a lot safer for VIPs, and more respectable.

Similar Programs in Other Asian Countries

The demand for high stakes gaming experiences, with hospitality, travel, and luxurious amenities, is something Macau used to excel at, albeit through the wrong channels. It was not the only one, as many other Asian countries have their own VIP focused programs, looking to recruit high rollers and provide experiences like no other.

Singapore, which only has 2 casino resorts, is one of the biggest hotspots for high roller gambling. Between the Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa, the casino has hosts and specialized dealers to provide high limit tables and bespoke gaming sessions for their high end clients. The hosts, however, do not operate independently and are not allowed to provide credit outside regulatory limits.

Since 2010, the Philippines has gradually built itself as a top alternative gambling destination for Asian gamers. The Metro Manila has over 20 casinos, with a prime focus on the Manila Entertainment City, a district with some of the best casinos and hotels in the country. It is not too dissimilar from the Vegas Strip or the Cotai Strip (in Macau). The Philippines has concierge programs and hosts to cater to VIP clients, under the oversight of PACGOR. There are a few private promoters, too, but these are also heavily regulated.

Two more markets that are gaining traction are the Vietnamese gambling sector and the South Korean casinos. These are aimed at foreigners only, targeting high stakes players and travelers. These countries already have a high density of international tourists, and while they don’t have organized junket systems, the reputation of the countries can contribute greatly to tourists for the gambling sectors.

One of the most recent, and potentially explosive, markets is Japan. It has new integrated resorts in the pipeline, and will concentrate on luring high value tourists. MGM International was the first casino operator to obtain a Japanese license, and its MGM Osaka will be the first casino resort to open in the country. It will entertain both foreigners and locals, bringing some of that signature MGM luxury. Ther are 2 more licenses for potential integrated resorts, and given the untapped potential of Japan and it being a highly wealthy country, it would not be short of suitors.

Importance of Maintaining Market Dominance in Macau

Gradually allowing junkets to come back into the picture is not a concession by Macau. Many aspects of the original system actually worked for the casinos and brought Macau to the forefront of the commercial casino market, and Macau even surpassed Vegas for revenue and visitors. The traffic to the island peaks during the first week of October (National Day), and during the November Macau Grand Prix. The Chinese New Year also sees a big influx of celebrating visitors to Macau. And junkets were a big part of bringing that luxurious atmosphere and vibe to the gambling district.

Under the new legislation, there are no risks of illegal practises or potentially scandalous headlines hitting Macau. This does look like a revival, but one that is done in cautious measures. The high roller market does not just bring more money to Macau, but it also adds prestige and weight to the district’s image as a gambling hotspot. While Singapore, the Philippines and one day Japan will all come knocking, Macau’s sights are set on keeping its position within Asia as the leading gambling hub.