Lisboa - The old casino which has symbolized Macau for thirty years

The opening of Wynn Resorts in Macau intensifies the competition for the city's gaming market. Wynn Resorts chairman and chief executive Steve Wynn emphasized that his company is concerned about its customers and would provide good benefits for their employees.

On September 6, hundreds of locals and mainlanders sweated out in close confines for nearly an hour before getting through the doors of Wynn Macau. In addition to its grand opening which elevates the gaming industry to a higher standard, it also provides attractive employment benefits to recruit experienced dealers from other competitors. The new gaming companies offer entry level salaries for dealers ranging from MOP13, 000-14,000. In addition, their staff is all eligible for a comprehensive medical coverage, retirement fund and paid holidays.

Galaxy - A quick opening in order to fight for one seat in the gambling industry

Jimmy Ho, who had worked for an old casino for almost four years, describes his old workplace as a complicated environment. He said that his initial monthly salary was only MOP7000, a pay raise would largely depend on how long you have worked there and how well you could communicate with some of the important people there. According to him, a worker can have a pay raise and promotion opportunities if they maintain a good relationship with those people. He added that some of his ex-colleagues still stay in the old company because many of them have been working there for years and they get along with the people and don't want to be promoted.

Helen Lam is now working in the Galaxy Group, another foreign company which owns a casino license. She commented that Galaxy tries to provide competitive benefits to their employees as well. However, it may have a management problem as they are not familiar with this new oriental market.

Wynn Resorts - It's opening raises the curtain for "the Warring States era" of the lottery industry of Macau

Ken Fong, a Wynn employee said that as he is an experienced employee and the company provides him with the best employee benefits among his colleagues. The best benefit doesn't always mean a much higher income, but fair promotion opportunities, said Fong.

According to the 2nd Quarter 2006 Manpower Needs and Wages Survey on the Gaming Industry released on Sept 29, at the end of June, the lottery industry had a total number of salaried employees of 29,993, a 28.4% increase over a year ago. The direct-lottery employments such as betting and service relevant staff rose to 18,069 in the gambling house, an increase by 33.3%. The average salary (not including the premium and bonus of the lottery industry) is MOP12, 615, a rise of 15.4% compared with the previous year.