The government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR)
is to amend regulations to curb teenage gambling, local media
reported Friday.
Macao Daily News, the leading local Chinese-language
newspaper, quoted MSAR Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah as saying
that the new rules will bar those unqualified for the casino entry
from gaining prize money that they win.
The region's existing gaming laws forbid local civil servants
and those under 18, including visitors, from entering casinos.
However, some of the rule breachers might be able to sneak in
and win their prize.
The new regulations are hopefully to state clearly that neither
the offender nor the offender's family members would get the prizes
even if they had won, the Macao chief was cited by the
newspaper.
Macao, a city with a population of 520,000, currently has 26
casinos under operation.
(Xinhua News Agency September 7, 2007)