Macau authorities have approved a proposal from Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd that will allow three Mocha Clubs-branded slot parlours to continue operating beyond the end of 2025. The decision enables the venues to remain open under a management company structure, following a regulatory review tied to changes introduced with the city’s updated gaming framework.

The approval applies to Mocha Golden Dragon, Mocha Porto Interior, and Mocha Hotel Sintra. All three locations will continue operating after December 31 under a contracted management arrangement agreed with Melco Resorts. The Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau confirmed the authorisation in a press release issued on Monday, stating that the application had undergone a formal evaluation process.

“Following a comprehensive analysis and evaluation, the Macau SAR government has granted authorisation to Melco’s application to operate three existing slot machine parlours… through the contracting of a management company,” said the regulator in its Monday update while naming the three venues, as GGRAsia reports.

Management Company Model Follows Regulatory Transition

The decision reflects regulatory requirements that came into force alongside Macau’s new 10-year gaming concessions, which began in January 2023. Under the revised framework, satellite gaming venues, including Mocha Clubs, were given a three-year transitional period to adjust their operating models. By the end of this period, such venues were required either to become directly operated by their concessionaire or to adopt a management company structure in order to remain in business.

Historically, the Mocha brand was represented by slot parlours operated by third-party owners across Macau. The updated rules, however, significantly narrowed the options available to satellite venues. While most full-casino satellite operations have faced closure, only one such venue, Casino L’Arc Macau, is proceeding with a full takeover by its licensee, SJM Resorts Ltd, ahead of the December 31 deadline. Melco Resorts, by contrast, opted to preserve the three Mocha venues through the managed services route.

The arrangement required approval from the city’s Chief Executive. When approached for additional details regarding the structure of the management agreement, Melco Resorts indicated that it did not have an official statement available as of Monday evening.

Closures, Staffing Arrangements, and Asset Reallocation

Alongside the continuation of the three approved Mocha Clubs, Melco Resorts has overseen a series of closures affecting other properties. In late September, the company shut Casino Grand Dragon in Taipa, its own full-casino satellite. It also closed three Mocha Clubs slot parlours over the final months of 2025. Mocha Kuong Fat ceased operations on September 24, Mocha Hotel Grand Dragon closed on November 24, and Mocha Hotel Royal stopped operating on December 28.

According to publicly available data reviewed by industry observers, a combined total of 320 staff were employed across Casino Grand Dragon and the three shuttered Mocha venues. Under arrangements agreed between gaming licensees and Macau authorities, affected satellite workers are entitled to employment guarantees, priority consideration for available roles, or other forms of support, depending on individual eligibility.

The shutdown of Mocha Hotel Royal was coordinated by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau in cooperation with multiple government departments. Gaming machine operations at the site were suspended at 11:59pm on December 28, with representatives from the Labour Affairs Bureau present on site to assist staff and provide consultation services. Law enforcement officers were also deployed to maintain order during the removal of equipment and the vacating of the premises.

Melco Resorts first announced plans to close Casino Grand Dragon and certain Mocha Clubs in June, stating at the time that the move aligned with its “overall development strategy” and compliance with Macau law. During the company’s third-quarter earnings release on November 7, Melco confirmed that following the September closures, 15 gaming tables had been reassigned to City of Dreams Macau, while 90 gaming machines were relocated to its majority-owned Studio City resort in Cotai.

Broader Context as Visitor Numbers Climb

The regulatory decisions come as Macau continues to see strong visitor traffic. During the combined Macau SAR Establishment Day and Christmas holiday period from December 20 to 28, the city recorded 1.14 million inbound visitor arrivals. Total cross-border movements reached 6.25 million over the nine-day period, according to figures released by public security authorities.

Mainland China remained the largest source of visitors, accounting for more than 72 percent of arrivals. Officials noted that cumulative visitor numbers for 2025 had surpassed 39.4 million by late December, exceeding the city’s full-year total from 2019. Authorities have indicated that further increases are expected ahead of New Year’s Eve, with additional deployments planned to manage border flows and public events.