Macau Prepares Casino Shutdowns Ahead of Super Typhoon Ragasa

The Macau government declared Monday that all casinos will temporarily shut down operations if Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or higher is issued during Super Typhoon Ragasa. The typhoon is expected to peak on September 23-24.

The decision was announced by Economy and Finance Secretary Tai Kin Ip after an emergency meeting chaired by Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai. The notice prioritizes public safety over revenue as the storm approaches.

Operators will receive closure notices in advance to protect employees and patrons. Tai urged employers to implement flexible work arrangements to ensure staff safety during the typhoon’s aftermath.

Learning from Historic Risks

Macau activated its lowest-tier typhoon warning (Signal No. 1) at 3 pm UTC on Monday for Super Typhoon Ragasa. The SAR’s five-level alert system automatically suspends public transport at Signal No. 8, a threshold Ragasa could meet by Tuesday afternoon. The high level, Signal No. 10, was last activated during 2017’s Typhoon Hato.

Hato’s MOP12.55 billion devastation and Mangkhut’s historic 2018 casino closures contribute largely to the preparation for Ragasa. While the Chief Executive holds emergency closure authority, most operational pauses have been operator-led for non-gaming facilities, as demonstrated during Typhoon Saola in 2023.

The Meteorologist Bureau warns of a high probability Signal No. 3 will be issued overnight, increasing risks of flooding and infrastructure damage similar to past crises.

Ongoing Preparations

Macau is expected to issue an orange storm surge warning on Tuesday, September 23, with floodwaters likely reaching 1-1.5 meters, which may rise to a red alert of 2.5 meters. Security Chief Wong Sio Chak confirmed 45 public and private car parks in flood-prone zones will shut down once evacuations commence.

Cross-border ferry services have already been interrupted, while the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge plans to close at 3 pm UTC on Tuesday as Ragasa nears the Pearl River Estuary. Macau International Airport warned 250 flights face disruption, stating operations will be “significantly reduced after 4 pm on September 23, with virtually no flights taking off or landing on September 24.”

The weather bureau cautioned Ragasa could pass within 100km of the city, causing persistent heavy rain and severe flooding. Chief Executive Fai reiterated a three-phase recovery strategy for essential utilities and post-typhoon rehabilitation.

Tourism Surge Interruption

Macau’s record-breaking August tourism of 4.2 million visitors now faces Ragasa’s threat to casino revenue and resort operations. Seaport Research partners had warned on September 1 that typhoons could dent the projected 13% gaming growth for the month, recalling the dual-storm impact in September 2024.