This transition took effect at 2 a.m. on December 30, after the Macau government granted SJM the authority to operate Casino L’Arc Macau directly, thereby ending its previous status as a satellite casino. “Today is a joyous occasion for SJM Resorts,” Ho remarked during a press conference, attended by long-serving L’Arc staff and colleagues from SJM.
She assured reporters that the handover was executed smoothly, causing no disruption to guests or gaming activities, stating, “In fact, no one noticed it at all.” Describing L’Arc as a well-managed property with a consistent operational team, Ho expressed SJM’s intention to leverage the casino to attract more visitors to Macau.
The transition marks the conclusion of Macau’s three-year phase-out period for satellite casinos, with L’Arc being the sole property to successfully shift to a self-operated model. According to the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), SJM formally applied to terminate L’Arc’s satellite status shortly before the transition, citing commercial reasons, and received government approval.
When questioned about changes to the operating strategy, Ho indicated that customer flow would likely remain stable, explaining, “Many customers from closed satellite casinos are seeking familiar environments where their experiences remain largely unchanged.”
The number of gaming tables at L’Arc has significantly expanded from just over 40 to 100 under the new management structure. SJM celebrated this transition with a ceremony featuring traditional lion dances, coinciding with the welcome of the New Year.
Ho clarified that the decision to acquire L’Arc was part of a broader strategic vision for the Macau peninsula, noting its suitability compared to other properties previously assessed.
The transition followed government approval on December 12 for SJM to take over the hotel and casino units of L’Arc, encompassing over 86,000 square meters formerly held by Arc Of Triumph Development Company Limited, controlled by SJM executive director Angela Leong.
The acquisition was finalized on December 15, following a HK$1.75 billion ($224 million) deal approved by SJM’s independent shareholders, which also included the repayment of the company’s HK$1.93 billion debt.
Ho mentioned that gaming tables from closed satellite casinos would be redistributed across SJM’s self-managed venues, such as Grand Lisboa and Hotel Lisboa. With the impending closure of Casino Landmark, all remaining tables would be assigned by Tuesday.
SJM had previously supplied its license to nine other third-party casinos, which are required to exit by the end of 2025, but decided to retain only the L’Arc Hotel for continued operations. The closure of Casino Landmark, set for 11:59 p.m. on December 30, signifies the end of the satellite casino model in Macau, following the earlier shutdown of Casino Fortuna on December 9.
The DICJ confirmed that inspectors would oversee Landmark’s closure, supervise the suspension of gaming operations, and ensure compliance with SJM’s submitted plans. Additionally, the bureau will collaborate with labor authorities to manage the relocation of 1,169 affected employees, ensuring retention of pay, benefits, and working conditions.
SJM has pledged that all gaming tables and machines from Landmark will be reassigned to its self-managed casinos, and guests with chips or deposits will be able to redeem them at other SJM properties starting December 31.
The company reassured that all employee entitlements would be honored, with direct hires reassigned and non-SJM staff given priority for any vacancies. In its latest quarter, SJM reported a 15% year-over-year drop in adjusted EBITDA to HK$881 million, alongside a 91% decline in profit to HK$9 million.
