MGM CHINA's Cotai casino in Macau was locked down yesterday after a dealer tested positive for Covid-19, city authorities in the world's biggest gambling hub said, ordering everyone inside to stay put until 1 November.

"Casinos, hotel staff and hotel guests will be quarantined in place immediately," the city government said in a statement, adding that all stores and restaurants attached to the hotel resort would also remain shut.

Government health workers were at the MGM Cotai site, with no-one allowed to enter or exit the building, industry publication Inside Asian Gaming said.

The closure deals a blow to casino operators who have already been grappling with Covid-19 restrictions for more than two and a half years.

Macau's casinos have been losing millions of dollars monthly due to coronavirus restrictions as the special administrative region follows China's 'dynamic zero Covid' policy.

MGM did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Reuters

(c) 2022 City A.M., source Newspaper