The Macau government has ordered Macau (Yut Yuen) Canidrome Co Ltd. to relocate its greyhound racing track or shut down its operations within the next two years. The racing track is located in the northern area of the Macau peninsula.
A press release issued today by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) states that the decision follows an “exhaustive analysis” of the impact the Canidrome has on Macau. The Macau government commissioned the Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming at the University of Macau, to study the impact of greyhound racing betting in 2015. The findings of the study were used as the basis of the DICJ’s decision regarding Yut Yuen’s operations.
The decision also took into consideration “social expectations,” without elaborating any further.
Gross gaming revenue from greyhound racing betting in Macau declined 13.8 per cent year-on-year in 2015. The annual gross revenue was MOP125 million, compared to MOP145 million in 2014.
Yut Yuen is the sole operator of greyhound racing betting in Macau known as the Macau Canidrome. It is part of the business empire of retired business tycoon Stanley Ho Hung Sun, founder of Macau casino operator SJM Holdings Ltd. Angela Leong On Kei currently heads the firm. She is also an executive director of SJM Holdings.
According to the gaming bureau’s press release, Angela Leong said Yut Yuen would decide whether to move its track or to shut down operations within the deadline set by the government.
Animal right activists have accused Canidrome of killing hundreds of healthy greyhounds for commercial reasons on a yearly basis, allegedly when dogs fail to meet the company’s performance standards.
